Architectuurstudie, mogelijk een gotische kerk 1849 - 1917

Matthijs Maris sketched this architectural study of a gothic church, using graphite on paper. The soaring arches and vertical lines emblematic of Gothic architecture were designed to inspire awe. The pointed arch, a signature of the Gothic style, directs the eye upward, toward the heavens. This motif, born in medieval Europe, shares a visual echo with the minarets of Islamic architecture, symbolizing a reaching for the divine. In the cathedral's design we see a yearning, a seeking of the sublime. One cannot help but consider how these architectural forms reflect our collective, subconscious desire to bridge the earthly and the celestial. Think of how these forms reappear throughout history, each time adapting to the cultural and spiritual needs of the age, resonating within us, reminding us of our timeless search for meaning.