Gezicht op het warenhuis van Thiéry & Cie te Brussel 1833 - 1880

This print, by Auguste Numans, gives us a view of the Thiéry & Cie department store in Brussels. Flags are flying high, and the streets teem with life. But what do these flags truly signify? Flags have long served as powerful symbols of identity, nationhood, and allegiance, harking back to ancient standards used in battle. The fluttering of the flags in this image not only denotes the location of the store but also evokes a sense of pride and modernity. Consider how flags appear in Renaissance paintings, adorning ships or castles. The shift from a feudal lord's banner to the emblem of commerce reveals much about the changing values of society. This image is a potent reminder of how symbols evolve, carrying collective memory and shaping our understanding of the world around us. The flags here, therefore, act as a visual shorthand for progress, aspiration, and the spirit of a burgeoning consumer culture.