Gezicht op de kathedraal van Uppsala 1670

Jean Marot's etching presents the Uppsala Cathedral as a monumental symbol of spiritual and temporal power. The cathedral, rendered with meticulous detail, rises assertively against the sky, marked by the cross, a ubiquitous symbol of Christianity, but here, it speaks of more. The cross atop the cathedral connects it to a lineage of religious structures, echoing the aspirations of earlier temples reaching towards the divine. It is a motif found across cultures, from early Romanesque churches to the soaring Gothic cathedrals of France. Each iteration carries the weight of collective memory, a silent testament to humanity's enduring quest for transcendence. The cross has undergone countless transformations, yet its fundamental essence persists. It embodies humanity’s quest for meaning, constantly evolving yet eternally present. It calls to mind the psychoanalytic concept of archetypes, resonating within the subconscious, stirring emotions of faith, hope, and perhaps, even doubt.