Groepsportret met een twintigtal jonge mannen en enkele katholieke priesters, op de voorgrond een bord met daarop geschreven: 'Dilectione usque conjunctos quid disjungat?' 1885 - 1888

August Rombaut captured this group portrait of young men and Catholic priests, immortalizing them in a photograph of 62 by 105 mm. At the forefront, a sign boldly proclaims in Latin: "Dilectione usque conjunctos quid disjungat?" or, "Who shall separate those united by love?". This phrase is laden with historical and cultural weight, echoing classical Roman ideals of fraternity, honor, and unbreakable bonds. Think of the Roman Legions whose strength relied on unity; or even the symposiums of Ancient Greece, a visual expression of shared intellectual and spiritual pursuits. The phrase itself may subtly contrast the ever-present threat of discord, evoking a sense of fragility inherent in human connections. This phrase is a testament to the enduring power of symbols in conveying complex emotions and collective aspirations across time.