Curatorial notes
Joseph Pennell rendered this view of Le Puy-en-Velay with etching sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, capturing a tapestry of nature and spirituality. The steeples, towers, and the statue atop the Rocher Corneille punctuate the skyline like sacred markers. These reaching spires echo the human desire to ascend beyond the earthly realm, a motif seen across epochs, from the Tower of Babel to the Gothic cathedrals that pierce the skies. Consider the statue of Notre-Dame de France, overlooking the town. Mary, as a symbol, has undergone many transformations, evolving from ancient mother goddesses into the compassionate intercessor we recognize today. Pennell invites us to trace the life of these symbols across time and space, acknowledging their enduring power to move us.
