Gezicht op de Koninklijke Muntschouwburg te Brussel 1827 - 1829

Jean-Baptiste Madou’s lithograph presents the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg in Brussels, a monument of civic pride. Dominating the composition are the Doric columns, a visual echo of ancient Greek temples, symbols of democracy and reason. These columns are not unique to Brussels, however; they re-emerge through history, adorning structures from the Roman Pantheon to the United States Capitol. The column, a load-bearing element, becomes a potent symbol of societal support, of enduring strength and stability. In the collective unconscious, such architectural forms evoke a sense of permanence and order. Yet, paradoxically, the theater itself is a space of illusion, of ephemeral performance. Here, the architectural solidity of the columns is juxtaposed with the transient nature of theatrical art; one embodies permanence, while the other celebrates change. This interplay reveals the psychological tension between our longing for the eternal and our fascination with the fleeting moment. The image invites us to consider how symbols, like actors on a stage, continually re-enter our cultural consciousness, each time assuming new roles and reflecting the evolving dramas of human history.