Twee kerken 1842 - 1884

This etching by Kornelis Jzn de Wijs presents two churches, each crowned with a spire reaching skyward. These spires, topped with crosses, are not merely architectural details, but powerful symbols. The cross, of course, is an emblem of Christianity. Its roots stretch back to ancient beliefs about sacred trees connecting the earthly and divine realms. Even earlier cultures saw the cross in cosmological symbols representing the four corners of the world. The vertical axis of the church symbolizes spiritual aspiration, while the horizontal represents the earthly realm. The spire acts as a visual metaphor, a yearning for the heavens, mirroring similar structures in ancient pagan temples. The echo of such forms across centuries reveals humanity’s continuous quest for transcendence. It’s as if our collective memory instinctively recognizes and responds to these forms. The churches act as focal points, a place for collective memory and subconscious reflection.