Cirquebeuf-sur-Seine 1907

Clarence Gagnon’s canvas reveals a serene vista of Cirquebeuf-sur-Seine, its composition dominated by the church spire. This symbol, reaching towards the heavens, echoes through time, recalling the obelisks of ancient Egypt and the minarets of the Islamic world, each a reaching hand towards the divine. Observe how the spire in Gagnon’s work evokes both a sense of spiritual yearning and a connection to the local community. This echoes, albeit subtly, the phallic symbolism of the obelisk, a primal assertion of power and continuity, albeit transformed through centuries of cultural encoding. The image is deeply embedded in our collective memory. A testament to the enduring human need to express reverence and seek transcendence. These forms resonate because they tap into our deepest, most primal desires and fears, surfacing from the subconscious to shape our cultural expressions. The spire has reappeared, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.