Gezicht op een stad of dorp aan het water 1907

This pencil drawing of a cityscape was made by Alexander Shilling. Note how the spire of the church rises above the other buildings; this symbol of spiritual aspiration has deep roots. The spire, a common motif in European cityscapes, extends far back into history. The presence of spires evoke our collective memory of humanity’s pursuit of the divine, of reaching for something beyond our earthly existence. We see similar vertical reaching in the obelisks of ancient Egypt, symbols of power and connection to the gods. The church tower is an interesting one. Its evolution reflects our changing relationship with the divine, a kind of pendulum swing between fear and reverence. Here, it stands as a connection between heaven and earth. This simple yet powerful symbol, rendered in pencil, touches something deep within us, a longing for connection and meaning that transcends time.