Gezicht op de Congreskolom vanuit de Lignestraat in Brussel 1861 - 1870

BT created this stereoscopic image of the view of the Congreskolom from Lignestraat in Brussels, using photography. The Congress Column, built between 1850 and 1859, commemorates the establishment of the Belgian Constitution in 1831 by the National Congress. This photograph captures a moment in the urban landscape of Brussels, but also reflects the values and aspirations of a nation forging its identity. The symmetry of the architecture and the clean, orderly street hint at a desire for social order. The lone figure walking towards the column evokes questions of individual identity in relation to national identity and progress. The use of photography itself, a relatively new medium at the time, suggests a desire to capture and preserve the present for future generations. The image invites reflection on how nations construct monuments to shape collective memory. How do we create a sense of shared history and purpose, and who gets to decide what is remembered?