Houten brug in de militaire sectie van de wereldtentoonstelling te Antwerpen 1894

Th. Lantin captured this photographic print of a wooden bridge in the military section of the World Exhibition in Antwerp in 1894. World Exhibitions were sites of both commerce and cultural exchange but also potent displays of national power. Here, the wooden bridge, likely a temporary structure, symbolizes Belgium's industrial and military capabilities. The photograph isn't just a neutral record; it's a carefully constructed image designed to project strength and modernity. Belgium, at this time, was a relatively new nation seeking to establish itself on the world stage. Its colonial ambitions in the Congo were intertwined with its industrial and military growth. An image like this can be read alongside archival documents, official reports, and accounts from the time, revealing much about Belgium's self-image and its place in the global order.