Jacques Thiel 1890

Anders Zorn captured Jacques Thiel in oil, rendering him with striking realism. Note the window behind Thiel, its geometric panes recalling medieval stained glass. This motif transports us back to an era where light itself was imbued with spiritual significance. In the Middle Ages, the window served as a liminal space through which divine light entered the earthly realm, illuminating the sacred narratives depicted on the glass. Yet, the window's presence here in Thiel’s portrait is far from reverential. Instead, it acts as a subtle invocation of the past. It highlights the enduring human quest to find meaning and order in a world that is so easily disrupted by chaos. This visual symbol is non-linear, cyclical and has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.