Gedecoreerd eikenhouten hek in de Sint-Gertrudiskerk te Nijvel before 1889

This decorated oak screen in the Sint-Gertrudiskerk in Nijvel presents a fascinating array of Christian symbols carved meticulously by an anonymous hand. Notice the recurring motif of the circle containing various figures; these likely represent different saints or biblical figures, each encircled by a halo or mandorla, a symbol of divine light and sanctity. This visual language echoes through centuries, reminiscent of the Byzantine icons where the halo signifies spiritual illumination. Consider how the symbol of the circle itself, a form we find repeated across cultures, from ancient sun worship to Renaissance allegories of perfection, reappears here. It’s a cultural echo, an ancestral memory resurfacing in the artisan's hand, now repurposed to frame the sacred. Such symbols carry a profound emotional weight, engaging us on a subconscious level, sparking recognition and reverence. The recurring use of vegetal and floral patterns around the central medallions serve as a potent reminder of nature's bounty and God's creation. The continuous, cyclical pattern of these symbols reveals how they have resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings across different eras.