Franse afdeling in een hal tijdens de Wereldtentoonstelling van 1894 te Antwerpen c. 1894

Charles Bernhoeft made this photograph of the French section at the World’s Fair in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1894. The picture documents a moment of national pride, as countries displayed their industrial and cultural achievements. However, the celebratory atmosphere obscures a complex narrative. World’s Fairs were tools of empire. They showcased not only progress but also colonial power, often exhibiting artifacts and people from colonized lands, reinforcing a hierarchy of cultures. The French section, with its displays of manufactured goods, symbolized France's economic strength, built in part on colonial exploitation. Bernhoeft's photograph captures the spectacle but also hints at the underlying power dynamics of the time. While the fair was meant to promote understanding, it also solidified existing inequalities, casting a long shadow over the intertwined histories of Europe and its colonies.