St. Johannis in Ansbach 

Ludwig Hoffstadt, born in 1842, created "St. Johannis in Ansbach" with delicate lines and watercolor washes. Hoffstadt, who lived through the unification of Germany, depicts not just a religious building, but a social hub. Gothic architecture, like that of St. Johannis, often functioned as a canvas upon which the narratives of a community could be woven. Look closely at the figures Hoffstadt included. Who are they? What might they be doing? While the artist certainly invites us to admire the architecture, it's the street level where the real story unfolds. Hoffstadt’s quiet street scene encourages us to ponder the relationship between the sacred space and the everyday lives unfolding within its shadow. It highlights the intersection between religious identity, communal life, and the physical spaces that shape them.