Zilveren schep waarmee landvoogd Karel Alexander de eerste spade in de grond heeft gestoken voor het nieuwe kanaal bij Leuven, 1750 1750

This print by Antoine Opdebeeck commemorates the start of canal construction near Leuven in 1750. The spade is richly decorated with symbols of power and progress. Note the grotesque mask just above the coat-of-arms. Throughout antiquity, similar masks adorned triumphal arches and served as apotropaic symbols, warding off ill fortune. Even here, they embody powerful forces engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This ancient motif is juxtaposed with the modern ambition of canal building. The heraldic eagles atop the shield symbolize imperial authority, a motif echoing ancient Roman standards. The crowned shields and Latin inscriptions further reinforce themes of dominion and divine sanction. The image represents an attitude towards the world, and how it can be shaped according to one’s will. This print reveals the cyclical progression of symbols, how ancient forms resurface and are re-contextualized to legitimize and celebrate contemporary achievements.