Vader en zoon hijsen de vlag 1880

Constant Cap made this etching, “Father and Son Raise the Flag,” in Belgium in 1876. It depicts a father and son hanging a flag out of the window of a grand interior. The choice of subject matter and the style of its execution speak volumes about the social and cultural context in which it was made. The most striking thing about this image is the way in which it draws on a tradition of history painting. It represents a scene from everyday life as though it were a monumental event. By the 1870s, history painting was on the decline, and artists were exploring new ways of representing the world around them. But, it seems to me, Cap is making a very specific point about the importance of family, tradition, and the passing on of values from one generation to the next. As art historians, we can research the socio-political context in which it was made and explore how it reflects broader trends in Belgian society and culture, especially the history of patriotism, nationalism, and political symbolism.