Houten jubee in de Sint-Janskathedraal te Den Bosch before 1889

Editor: This image showcases a wooden jubee, a screen in the Sint-Janskathedraal, dating from before 1889. The intricate carving seems to depict scenes and patterns deeply embedded within medieval symbolism. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, the cross motif resonates, doesn't it? Consider its pervasive power. It's not merely decorative. Its deployment across cultures often signifies sacrifice, unity, a meeting point. Notice also how the architect used similar units of geometric designs to build a larger picture, representing harmony and structural order. Do you notice any repeated figures beyond the obvious? Editor: I do now. Many square forms contain slightly different embellishments and decorations. They have an incredible sense of detail. The repetitive forms remind me of a sense of visual prayer. Is that reasonable? Curator: That's astute. These choices evoke a sense of rhythm, of almost chanting. In this context, we have the 'cultural memory' embedded in the architectural symbolism. The jubee was, after all, a screen—separating the sacred from the profane, a boundary charged with significance. What psychological impact might that physical separation create? Editor: It makes me wonder about the intention to create something formidable that mediates faith in architecture. I think I underestimated how material objects shape culture and psychology, not just the other way around. Curator: Indeed. By contemplating this piece, we see echoes of a society grappling with spiritual order and the power of symbolic language. Editor: This was a perfect dive into an iconic masterpiece that taught me to read more closely and beyond surface impressions.