Gezicht op meerdere zeilboten te water en Gezicht op een kerk te Tianjin before 1897

Here are two images from an unknown date by an anonymous artist: one of boats at sea, and another of a church in Tianjin. The most striking feature of the church is the dome, which is a symbol that has journeyed through time. We see the dome in the Pantheon of ancient Rome, representing cosmic harmony, then in Byzantine churches as a symbol of heaven. Observe how the semi-circular arch of the dome’s windows softly diffuses the light, reminiscent of earlier religious structures and their sacred spaces. The semi-circular arch is another motif passed down through history; a doorway to the divine, it echoes in Roman triumphal arches and Renaissance cathedrals. Each repetition is more than just a structural choice; it's a subconscious echo of cultural memory, drawing from a deep well of shared human experience. These forms have undergone a transformation, adapting to new cultural and religious contexts. It is a reminder that images carry a life of their own, evolving and resurfacing in unexpected ways.