Maquette met verschillende studies van het dak van het Paleis van Justitie in Brussel, België before 1893

This print by Römmler & Jonas presents various studies for the roof of the Palace of Justice in Brussels. While the exact date of the print is unknown, the Palace itself was completed in 1883, a monument to the grandeur of state power. The image invites us to consider the cultural and institutional forces at play in late 19th-century Belgium. The Palace, designed by Joseph Poelaert, aimed to visually represent the authority of the Belgian justice system through its imposing scale and neoclassical style. The choice of architectural style, reminiscent of ancient Roman temples, connects justice with notions of historical legitimacy and imperial power. The meticulous detail in the studies reflects the importance placed on the aesthetic representation of justice, but also the institutional demand for architects to provide detailed designs for public scrutiny. Understanding this artwork necessitates delving into the archives of architectural firms, government records, and the history of legal institutions in Belgium. In doing so, we can better understand how art serves to embody and project the values of a given society.