Vier vrouwen drinken koffie in het Tunesische deel van de Wereldtentoonstelling van Antwerpen in 1894 1894

Charles Bernhoeft captured this image of four women drinking coffee at the Tunisian section of the World Exhibition in Antwerp in 1894. Observe the intimate gathering around coffee, a ritual steeped in cultural significance. This act of sharing coffee resonates with ancient symbols of hospitality and communion. From the Near East to Europe, the coffee ceremony transcends mere sustenance, embodying social bonds and shared experiences. Consider the Greek symposium or Roman banquets – communal drinking fosters dialogue and solidarity. Yet, here, these Tunisian women are exhibited as part of a World Fair; a tableau within the colonial gaze. Has the meaning of sharing a cup of coffee been altered? The cyclical nature of symbols reveals itself: ancient rituals adopted, adapted, and sometimes exploited in new contexts. It is in such acts of observation where the past reveals the present, and we can learn to see more clearly.