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

The Frères Dero captured the floats of the 1892 Landjuweel pageant in Antwerp, celebrating the Belgian Archeology Academy. Dominating the lower image is the clear symbol of religious conversion. Conversion is a powerful motif; we can see it echoed across time, from Saul’s transformation on the road to Damascus to Augustine’s spiritual awakening. Here, Marie of Nijmegen undergoes her own metamorphosis, framed within an almost shrine-like setting. The act of kneeling, the gestures of supplication—these are not merely historical re-enactments but echoes of humanity's deep-seated need for change and redemption. Consider how the motif has evolved. From ancient rituals to modern psychology, the idea of transformation persists, driven by subconscious desires and collective memories. This image then, is not just about Marie of Nijmegen; it reflects our ongoing, cyclical quest for personal and cultural renewal.