Gezicht op het Koningsplein en het standbeeld van Godfried van Bouillon te Brussel, België 1860 - 1890

This photograph captures the Koningsplein in Brussels, featuring a statue of Godfried van Bouillon. The equestrian statue dominating the square is not merely a portrait, but a powerful symbol. Equestrian statues through time have been used to represent leadership, control, and divine grace; from Roman emperors to Renaissance princes, the figure on horseback embodies authority. Consider the medieval understanding of the knight. The horse was not just a mode of transport but an extension of the rider's will. Godfried van Bouillon, astride his steed, projects the image of a crusader king, a defender of Christendom. These motifs reemerge throughout history, each time adapted to new cultural needs. Think of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, where triumphal arches and equestrian statues evoke a lineage of power stretching back to antiquity, these symbols are constantly reshaped to fit the ambitions and anxieties of each age. They reflect our collective memory and subconscious desires.