Gezicht op een dorp 1860

This village scene was captured with etching by Laurent Herman Redig in the 19th century. The church spire ascends above the village homes, a universal symbol that has transcended time. The spire, a symbolic needle, points to the heavens, echoing similar forms in ancient obelisks and minarets, all striving to connect earth to the celestial sphere. It’s a potent image that suggests a collective yearning for the divine, a sentiment deeply embedded in the human psyche. In Redig's work, its presence subtly elevates the everyday, infusing the scene with a sense of spiritual aspiration. The composition evokes a powerful emotion, a feeling of rootedness and reverence that engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This symbol has gone through a cyclical progression, resurfacing in myriad forms and different contexts to remind us of our connection to the heavens.