Gezicht op de hoofdingang van het Paleis van Justitie in Brussel, België before 1894

This anonymous print depicts the main entrance of the Palace of Justice in Brussels. The facade, punctuated by imposing columns, is crowned with a classical pediment, a symbol harking back to ancient Greek temples. These architectural elements speak of a desire to link the modern legal system with the perceived order and justice of antiquity. The columns evoke a sense of strength and stability, while the pediment, often adorned with symbolic sculpture in antiquity, suggests the culmination of civic virtues. We see this motif echoed through centuries, from the Roman Forum to the Renaissance palazzi, each time adapted to reflect contemporary values. This visual language taps into a collective memory, a yearning for an ideal of justice and order, ingrained deep within the human psyche. A yearning that finds expression in stone and form.