This is outstanding aesthetically, because in the preceding moves both pieces only have been directed back critically over e4 (the bishop in the first, the rook in the second move). Only after that can white exploit the point of intersection e4 during the third move.
The visual impact of this position is due to the previous moves where both pieces were only moved back to e4 (the bishop in the first, the rook in the second move). It is only after this that white can capitalize on the intersection point at e4 during the third move.