Gezicht op de Église Saint-Sulpice te Parijs 1818

This print, etched by François Louis Couché, captures the Église Saint-Sulpice in Paris with an architect’s precision. The twin towers of the church, framing the façade, evoke a sense of imposing symmetry, a common motif in religious architecture intended to convey divine order. Consider the towers, how they echo the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, structures built to bridge the earthly and divine realms. This reaching for the heavens, this architectural aspiration, is a recurring theme throughout history, a testament to humanity's enduring quest for transcendence. The symmetrical design, while aesthetically pleasing, can also be seen as a reflection of deeper psychological needs—a subconscious desire for balance and harmony in a world often chaotic. This echoes in the basilica plans of Rome and even further back to the layouts of ancient temples. Symbols are powerful precisely because they engage with our deepest fears and desires, resurfacing across cultures and eras.