Sculpturen in de wethouderzaal van de Vrije van Brugge, België before 1887

This is a photograph of the Sculptures in the council chamber of the Brugse Vrije in Belgium. The Vrije was a powerful medieval institution which had its seat in Bruges. The image displays ornate carvings that adorn the room, reflecting the wealth and power of the institution. The sculptures in the council chamber were part of a broader visual culture, where imagery served to legitimize authority and reinforce social hierarchies. The visual codes of the room, with its emphasis on grandeur and tradition, would have communicated a specific message about the continuity of power to those who entered the space. Understanding these sculptures requires archival research into the history of the Brugse Vrije itself and the socio-political context that it embodied. The cultural meaning of art is shaped by such institutional forces.