Gezicht op Hohenstein-Ernstthal 1885 - 1889

This striking photograph captures Hohenstein-Ernstthal, and draws our eye to the steeple of a church rising amidst the town's architecture. The steeple is not merely an architectural element; it's a visual echo of humanity’s perennial yearning for the divine. These spires, reaching towards the heavens, can be traced back to ancient obelisks and pyramids—monuments erected to bridge the earthly and the celestial realms. Consider, for instance, the obelisks of Egypt, symbols of the sun god Ra, or the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, each tier representing a step closer to the gods. In a psychoanalytic light, the verticality embodies a collective aspiration towards transcendence, deeply rooted in the subconscious. The steeple invokes an emotional reaction, resonating with our innate desire for spiritual connection, a feeling that has transcended epochs and continues to evoke deep emotional responses today. Thus, we observe how this symbol, a visual conduit between earth and sky, persists through time, adapting yet retaining its fundamental significance, forever intertwining human emotion with the built environment.