Interieur van de Salle des Pas-Perdus in het Paleis van Justitie in Brussel, België 1884 - 1914

Editor: This photograph, "Interieur van de Salle des Pas-Perdus in het Paleis van Justitie in Brussel, België," taken sometime between 1884 and 1914 by Gustave Hermans, is quite striking. The architecture is immense. What catches your eye when you look at it? Curator: The overwhelming verticality is paramount. Note the insistent repetition of the columns, drawing the eye upwards and suggesting a limitless extension beyond the frame. The subtle gradations of light and shadow, achieved through the photographic process, emphasize the geometric purity of the architectural forms. Consider the strategic placement of the columns: how do they compartmentalize and create the spatial tension? Editor: I see what you mean. The columns create smaller scenes within the larger picture. Is the greyscale an important component? Curator: Indubitably. The monochromatic palette focuses our attention on the play of light and the textural qualities of the stone. Without the distraction of color, we can more readily appreciate the formal relationships between the different architectural elements. Ask yourself: what structural devices has the photographer adopted to organize the picture, to emphasize spatial organization and material properties? Editor: I think the symmetry also provides some of that structure you mentioned. Seeing this image, considering your perspective on its form, has revealed things I had not noticed before. Curator: Precisely. Through careful examination, one finds there's an elegant interplay between the objective record of architecture and aesthetic choices, giving way to meaning and affect.