Ontwerp voor raam in het Noordertransept in de Dom te Utrecht c. 1934

This is Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst’s design for a window in the north transept of the Dom Church in Utrecht. Though undated, it can be situated within the artist’s broader oeuvre of symbolist works. Holst, emerging from a wealthy background, became a committed socialist, imbuing his art with a spiritual dimension that aimed to uplift the working class. In this design, the lead lines create a powerful framework for the colored glass. The muted blues and yellows evoke a sense of solemnity, inviting contemplation. The window’s abstract forms suggest a narrative beyond the literal, perhaps reflecting the artist's desire to transcend social divisions through collective experience. Holst once wrote about his work being a ‘bridge between the earthly and the divine’, and that seems fitting here. Consider the communities that would have gathered under the light of this window, and how Holst attempted to shape their sense of belonging and shared identity.