Easton, Pardee Hall, Lafayette College c. 1895

William H. Rau captured Pardee Hall at Lafayette College with his camera, freezing a moment in time. The building, a bastion of learning, displays a grand architectural style, echoing the Renaissance with its symmetrical façade. The emphasis on symmetry in the building’s design speaks volumes. This motif is not unique; it hearkens back to ancient temples and forward to modern governmental structures. The balanced design mirrors a deep-seated human desire for order and stability, a concept stretching from the mathematical harmonies sought by the Greeks to the balanced compositions of High Renaissance art. Consider the Renaissance revival style. It reflects a longing to recapture the glory of the past, a connection to a golden age. This yearning is eternally recurrent—a continuous cycle of looking back to inform the present, imbuing these buildings with a sense of timelessness and recurring cultural aspirations.