Exterieur van het gebouw op Boulevard de la Senne 43 te Brussel 1875

This photograph by Alexandre de Blochouse captures the building on Boulevard de la Senne, Brussels, around 1875. Note the arches, a motif that echoes through time. The arch, in its purest form, speaks of strength, of support – think of the Roman aqueducts, testaments to civilization's will to conquer nature. Yet here, the arches framing the shop windows invite entry and openness. Consider how this architectural element has migrated through art history, from the sacred vaults of Gothic cathedrals, symbolizing a reach toward the heavens, to the welcoming facades of modern commerce. The arch is a silent carrier of memory, a bridge connecting epochs. Its presence here is not just structural but psychological, offering a sense of continuity. Each iteration layers new meanings onto the old, creating a rich palimpsest of cultural significance.