Luikse perroen met fontein 1839 - 1841

Paulus Lauters created this print of the Luikse perroen met fontein, or Liège perron with fountain, in the 19th century. The perron, a column topped with a cross, wasn't just a fountain, it was a powerful symbol of municipal freedom and justice in Liège, Belgium. During Lauters’ lifetime, Liège was in the midst of significant social and political change, caught between regional pride and national identity. The perron, prominently placed in this print, speaks to the city’s complex history. Lauters highlights the perron amidst the daily life of ordinary people—vendors, passersby, and children. Do you notice how this challenges the traditional, grand narratives of power? What does it mean to see this symbol of civic authority so intimately entwined with the everyday lives of its citizens? Lauters asks us to consider the relationship between the symbols we create and the lived realities they represent. He reminds us that history isn't just about monuments and political events, but about the people who live, work, and dream in their shadows.