Klooster after 1854

This sketch of a monastery, or "Klooster" as Tavenraat titles it, captures more than just a building; it captures a world of contemplation and withdrawal. The monastery, historically, has been a place of refuge. A space where one withdraws from the world to seek deeper truths through study and prayer. Consider the window as a recurring motif. Windows can be seen as liminal spaces, barriers between interior and exterior life. This is not unlike the cave in Plato's allegory, a place where shadows dance and truth is elusive. Like Plato’s philosopher, the monk seeks to move beyond superficial shadows to apprehend a higher reality. Think of the emotional weight of these architectural choices, mirroring our own yearning for stillness, for a space free from the clamor of modern life. This image quietly reminds us of humanity’s enduring quest for meaning.