Transept of the Mosque of El Aksa 1889

James Tissot rendered this drawing of the Transept of the Mosque of El Aksa with graphite on paper. The columns, those stoic pillars, capture our attention here. Their symbolism echoes through time, from ancient temples in Greece to the grand cathedrals of Europe. Note the lines, how they emphasize height and solemnity. This motif, the reaching column, recurs across cultures, each time adapted but never truly changed. Think of the Tower of Babel, an earlier iteration of the same reaching gesture. It speaks to our collective, perhaps subconscious, drive to connect with the divine, to build monuments that touch the sky. Observe the rhythmic repetition of the columns, creating a visual cadence that induces a state of introspection and reverence. As you gaze upon this drawing, consider how these symbols, laden with historical weight, continue to resonate. They beckon us to explore the hidden narratives etched into our shared visual language.