Gezicht op het gebouw van de nationale bank in Antwerpen, België before 1893

This print by Römmler & Jonas captures the National Bank in Antwerp, Belgium, with a focus on its street-facing facade. The rigorous symmetry immediately strikes us: notice how the windows and architectural details are meticulously aligned, creating a grid-like structure. The composition, built on this repetition and balance, speaks to the bank's intended image of stability and order. The building's textures, from the stone facade to the cobbled street, are rendered in detail. This emphasis on form and structure over expressive brushwork aligns with the formalist approach, celebrating the artwork's intrinsic visual elements. The photograph doesn't just document a building; it presents an architectural form as a statement of permanence. Ultimately, it’s through this careful arrangement of lines and forms that the print conveys a sense of institutional power and enduring presence. As we look, we are invited to consider how architectural photography can shape our perceptions of authority.