Opening van het kanaal van Charleroi naar Brussel 1832

This is a silver medal made by Joseph-Pierre Braemt, commemorating the opening of the Charleroi Canal in Brussels in 1832. This medal speaks to the industrial ambitions of the newly formed Kingdom of Belgium. Consider for a moment, the industrial revolution and the attendant rise of the bourgeoisie, which fueled Belgium’s desire to modernize and expand its infrastructure. The canal itself was a feat of engineering, connecting industrial hubs and facilitating trade, but it also represents the changing relationship between humans and the natural landscape. As it became more and more altered to suit human needs and desires. The iconography on the medal, with its symbols of commerce and progress, reflects the values of a society on the cusp of transformation. It invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between progress, identity, and the reshaping of our environment. A society on the cusp of transformation.