Hendrik van Leuven verscheurt de Belgische vlag, 1831 1831

This engraving from 1831, made by an anonymous artist, depicts Hendrik van Leuven tearing the Belgian flag. The image is a snapshot of the complex and turbulent period of the Belgian Revolution. At the time, national identities were being forged through conflict and resistance. Van Leuven's act can be viewed as a deeply political, personal, and emotional response to the shifting power dynamics of the era. The tearing of the flag becomes a symbolic act of defiance against the new Belgian state. It raises questions about loyalty, resistance, and the emotional investment people have in national symbols. This image not only captures a moment of historical significance but also invites us to reflect on the ways in which national symbols are charged with meaning and how acts of destruction can be powerful statements of dissent. It reflects the intensity of feeling that comes with political change.