Staande vrouwenfiguur met een lauwerkrans 1892

Arthur Sterck made this drawing of a standing female figure with a laurel wreath in 1892. The laurel wreath, the classical robes, and the lyre at the figure’s feet all evoke classical antiquity. Made in Belgium, this drawing taps into the 19th-century’s fascination with antiquity. It came at a time when Europe's major cities were being reshaped by grand boulevards and public monuments, many of which drew inspiration from ancient Greece and Rome. Looking at this drawing, one might consider what role classical imagery played in shaping cultural identity and political aspirations in Belgium during this period. To understand this drawing better, we might delve into archives and libraries to explore the cultural milieu in which Sterck was working, examining exhibition catalogs, art criticism, and historical accounts of public art projects from the time.