Gemeentehuis van Anderlecht c. 1879 - 1910

Emile Aubry captured this image of the Gemeentehuis van Anderlecht with photography. The photograph presents a rigid, symmetrical depiction of the town hall, emphasizing its imposing facade. The building is structured in horizontal layers, accentuated by alternating bands of light and shadow. This compositional technique creates a visual rhythm that draws the eye upwards, culminating in the tower that punctuates the skyline. The photograph flattens the architectural space, reducing depth and emphasizing the surface patterns. Windows and ornamental details become units within a larger, gridded composition. This flattening effect destabilizes traditional perspective, inviting viewers to question the representation of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional plane. It challenges the conventional understanding of architectural photography as a mere record, instead positioning it as a complex interplay of form and representation. Notice how the linear structure of the building’s facade, enhanced by the monochrome palette, underscores a dialogue between order and representation, leaving us to ponder the nature of architectural form and its depiction.