Plattegronden van de Aula Academica in Gent c. 1827

Pierre Jacques Goetghebuer made these 'Plattegronden van de Aula Academica in Gent' drawings in the 19th century using pen and possibly ink on paper. Goetghebuer, living in a time of significant social change following the French Revolution, would have witnessed the transformation of societal structures and the rise of new ideologies. Architecture became a key way to reflect the values of progress. These floor plans reflect the rise of academic institutions, which were becoming more influential and served as places for intellectual discourse. There is a subtle suggestion of power in the drawings: the geometric symmetry of the building's layout is meant to convey order, reason, and control – values often associated with academic and intellectual authority. It also symbolizes a place where knowledge and social norms are constructed and reinforced. The Aula Academica in Gent, as depicted, becomes more than just a building; it is a stage where ideas meet, debates unfold, and the social fabric is actively woven.