Exterieur van het Paleis van Justitie te Brussel 1870 - 1900

This photograph captures Louis Antoine Pamard's exterior view of the Palace of Justice in Brussels. Notice the colossal columns and the commanding dome, each a symbol of authority and enduring power, reminiscent of ancient Roman temples. These architectural motifs, echoing across centuries, resurface to legitimize and awe. We observe how power and justice are not merely decreed, but visually asserted through forms ingrained in our collective memory. The imposing dome, for instance, carries echoes of the Pantheon, a structure intended to impress both earthly subjects and the divine. Yet, here, in a secular context, it signifies the reach and omnipresence of law. Such symbols tap into our subconscious, shaping perceptions of authority that are as psychological as they are civic, revealing how visual forms can be potent conveyors of cultural continuity and ideological intent.