Det indre af Salling kirke 1834 - 1866

Julius Magnus-Petersen's rendering of the interior of Salling Church presents us with a potent symbol: the arch. The arch, as seen here, is not merely a structural element, but a symbolic gateway. Its form echoes across time and cultures, from Roman aqueducts to Gothic cathedrals, each iteration imbued with aspirations of transcendence. The arch invites movement through sacred space, but is also a threshold, representing transition, transformation, and the passage from the earthly to the divine. Consider the triumphal arches of ancient Rome; monuments erected to celebrate military victories, but also to deify leaders. This gesture is mirrored in religious architecture. The arch frames altars, emphasizing their sanctity. It is no coincidence that the psychoanalyst would see in this shape the form of the maternal body, a safe and comforting space that the church is meant to recreate. The symbol of the arch invites us to reflect on the ways in which we construct our own symbolic frameworks.