Programma bij de inauguratie van de spoorweg tussen Quievrain en Roisin 1890

Charles Théodore Bernier created this program for the inauguration of the railway between Quievrain and Roisin in 1871, using etching to capture a moment of progress and celebration. Notice how Bernier uses a formal structure to merge the themes of tradition and modernity. The symmetrical arrangement of heraldic symbols and ornate flourishes at the top echoes classical motifs, conveying a sense of established order. Below, the stark lines of the train and the forward motion of the oxcart introduce a dynamic contrast. The railway itself symbolizes technological advancement, juxtaposed against the older, agrarian method of transportation. Bernier masterfully employs the semiotic language of his time. The contrast between the old and new can be interpreted through the lens of structuralism, highlighting the binary oppositions that drive cultural narratives. In closing, observe how the textured line work lends a tangible, almost tactile quality to the print, grounding the symbolic interplay of progress and heritage in the physical world.