Gezicht op het Place de l'Opéra, Luik 1862 - 1894

This photograph captures the Place de l'Opéra in Liège, its buildings looming with a theatrical grandeur that belies the era's photographic novelty. At its center, a statue stands—a classical echo harking back to ancient fora. The statue is of considerable importance, a public figure cast in bronze or stone that bears a lineage stretching from Roman emperors to Renaissance patrons, these figures served as more than mere likenesses; they were symbols of power, law, and cultural memory, erected to inspire civic virtue and instill communal identity. Consider the equestrian statues of Marcus Aurelius—the mounted hero—replicated through time, and the subtle shift in meaning, from imperial might to civic leadership. This constant evolution speaks to the cyclical nature of symbols, how they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings with each historical context. Viewed through a psychoanalytic lens, the statue's presence is a profound exploration of our collective subconscious—a conduit through which we grapple with our past and strive for a sense of continuity.