Life of Saint Dominic 

Geertgen tot Sint Jans created "Life of Saint Dominic" around 1490, likely with oil on panel. Immediately, the division of the composition into distinct zones captures our attention; on the left, a divine vision of the Virgin and Child, and on the right, a scene of worldly interaction. The formal arrangement here is not merely decorative, it’s a construction of meaning. Note how the artist uses the columns to separate the ethereal from the earthly, the spiritual from the corporeal. Light and colour further delineate these realms, with the left side bathed in a soft, heavenly glow, contrasting with the more muted tones of the right. This spatial organization is reminiscent of early Renaissance diptychs. The mirroring effect destabilizes traditional interpretations of sacred space, suggesting an interplay between divine revelation and human affairs. Ultimately, this work challenges fixed notions, offering a dynamic between the sacred and the secular.