Gezicht op het Koningsplein met het standbeeld van Godfried van Bouillon en de Kunstberg in Brussel 1857 - 1863

This is an anonymous stereograph, titled "Gezicht op het Koningsplein met het standbeeld van Godfried van Bouillon en de Kunstberg in Brussel," housed at the Rijksmuseum. The stereograph presents a symmetrical composition, bisected vertically to offer two slightly varied perspectives of the same scene. The statue of Godefroid de Bouillon dominates the foreground, its imposing presence balanced by the architectural facades and figures in the background. The symmetrical structure invites a formal analysis rooted in semiotics. The statue, a clear signifier of power and historical narrative, is deliberately framed within the urban landscape, suggesting a dialogue between the past and present. This dialogue unfolds through the photograph's texture and tone, where the sepia-toned surface lends an antiquated feel, emphasizing the historical depth encoded in the image. The photograph uses perspective to structure meaning, directing the eye towards the Kunstberg, a subtle yet persistent reminder of cultural ambition and human intervention in the landscape. This interplay between historical statuary and urban development creates a narrative framework, suggesting that the city itself is a text, layered with signs of its own making and cultural identity.