Balustrade van messing in de Sint-Jacobskerk in Leuven, België before 1887

Here, we see an anonymous representation of a brass balustrade in Saint James' Church in Leuven, depicted through precise lines and detailed forms. The drawing emphasizes verticality, with a series of slender columns supporting an elaborately decorated top section. The structure is divided into distinct registers; the base, the colonnade, and the ornamental crest, each contributing to a sense of formal balance. Note the play of light and shadow rendered through varied line weights, providing depth and texture to the otherwise monochrome palette. The classical motifs, such as the statues and symmetrical arrangements, reflect the artistic vocabulary of the time. The balustrade, beyond its function, serves as a semiotic marker, separating and defining sacred space. This division is not merely physical, but conceptual, reflecting the values and hierarchies embedded within the church. Consider how the artist's formal choices reinforce these meanings, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between art, architecture, and ideology.