View of Bazincourt, Sunset 1892

Camille Pissarro, with oil on canvas, captures a sunset in ‘View of Bazincourt.’ Note the steeple rising amidst the trees, it is not just an architectural feature but a symbol reaching skyward. The steeple, a pointed structure atop churches, has long been a visual motif linking the earthly to the divine. Think back to Gothic cathedrals, their spires intended to inspire awe and reverence. Pissarro's steeple connects to this tradition, albeit in a more intimate, secular way. The steeple here is softened by the sunset. It is a recurring echo of humanity's quest for something beyond our immediate grasp, a longing reflected in the human psyche. This yearning transcends time, resurfacing in myriad forms. Just as the sun sets and rises, the human spirit continuously seeks and finds new expressions for its most profound emotions.