Steinhoch church in Vienna 

Koloman Moser crafted this stained glass window for the Steinhof Church in Vienna, and it presents a compelling array of figures adorned with halos. These halos, luminous circles above the heads of saints, are more than mere decoration. They have journeyed through time, originating in ancient sun worship and pagan symbolism, adapted by Christianity to signify divine grace and enlightenment. In early Roman art, sun gods were depicted with radiant crowns, a visual vocabulary adopted to signify emperors. This evolved into the halo we recognize today, a potent symbol of holiness. The appearance of this sacred motif speaks to the way religious symbols evolve through history and across cultures. These are images that resonate with the collective unconscious, a link to humanity's continuous search for meaning and spiritual understanding.