Interieur van de machinehal tijdens de wereldtentoonstelling te Antwerpen 1894

Th. Lantin's photograph captures the interior of the machine hall at the 1894 Antwerp World Exhibition. These exhibitions were key institutions in shaping public understanding of progress, industry, and national identity. The image presents a vast, cathedral-like space filled with complex machinery. The machines symbolize Belgium's industrial prowess, while the orderly arrangement speaks to the emphasis on rational organization and technological advancement characteristic of the late 19th century. As sites of both education and entertainment, world exhibitions played a crucial role in shaping popular perceptions of technology and its potential to transform society. Understanding the political economy of late 19th-century Belgium, as well as the history of exhibitions themselves, is vital to interpreting this image. Primary source materials like exhibition catalogs, period newspapers, and government documents can provide insights into the social and institutional forces that shaped both the production of the machinery and the representation of Belgian industry on the world stage.