Udkast til Ester Balles gravmæle, med notater 1906

Niels Larsen Stevns drafted this sketch for Ester Balles's gravestone without a date, now at the SMK. The cross, a motif central to Christian iconography, dominates the design, symbolizing sacrifice, redemption, and spiritual transcendence. Its presence here, as in countless other memorials across epochs, illustrates humanity’s enduring quest to express faith and grapple with mortality. Observe how Stevns' cross echoes ancient cruciform layouts found in early Christian basilicas, yet it also anticipates the simplified, modernist crosses seen in 20th-century designs. Consider the Rosicrucian cross, laden with esoteric symbolism, or the Celtic cross, intertwined with pagan solar symbols, each bearing unique cultural imprints. The cross isn't static; it is a palimpsest of collective memory, with each iteration reflecting the fears, hopes, and spiritual inclinations of its time. It is a potent emblem that taps into the collective unconscious, reassuring us of eternal continuity.