Twee gezichten op de optocht van Landjuweel ter ere van het vijftigjarig bestaan van de Academie d'Archéologie de Belgique in 1892 in Antwerpen 1892

This print by the Dero brothers shows two floats from a festival parade in Antwerp, Belgium, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the local academy of archeology. In 1892, institutions like archeological academies played a key role in shaping national identity, and this parade shows how they used public spectacle to do it. Note the visual codes used here, the allegorical figures on the floats draw from classical antiquity and emphasize the historical depth of Belgian culture. These archeological institutions are of course, subject to their own politics. What version of the past do they wish to preserve? Whose stories are excluded when celebrating the nation’s history? Understanding the role of institutions and the politics of imagery is crucial for historians. By examining archives and contextualizing artwork within its historical moment, we can better understand the complex relationship between art, power, and society.