Design for the Decoration of the Ceiling in the Vestibule (Ier étage), Hôtel de S. A. le Prince de P... [Pless?}, Berlin 1850 - 1900

Jules-Edmond-Charles Lachaise designed this ceiling decoration for a Berlin hotel, using ink, graphite, and watercolor. Notice the geometric patterns and stylized floral motifs, repeated in symmetrical arrangements. These intertwining patterns evoke the ancient symbol of the endless knot, found across cultures from Celtic art to Buddhist iconography. Its unbroken lines signify the interconnectedness of all things, a spiritual binding that has resonated deeply through the ages. Consider how such motifs, appearing in places of gathering and contemplation, might subtly evoke a sense of continuity and shared history. The human psyche, ever drawn to patterns and symbols, finds in these repeating forms a sense of order and connection, a reassurance that even amidst chaos, there is an underlying harmony. These patterns reappear and evolve, echoing through time, constantly renewed through the collective subconscious.