Gezicht op de ruïnes van de Abdij van Villers before 1900

Jean Malvaux captured the Villers Abbey ruins with photography, freezing a moment of decay in time. Note the skeletal remains of Gothic arches piercing the sky; they are not merely architectural elements but symbols of aspiration, pointing towards the divine. These arches echo across centuries, appearing in ancient Roman aqueducts and even earlier in Mesopotamian gateways. Observe how the arch, initially a structural necessity, evolves into a symbol of power, triumph, and spiritual connection. This visual motif surfaces and resurfaces in different guises. The collective memory embedded within these forms stirs something primal in us. Perhaps it is the subconscious recognition of humanity's eternal striving for something beyond our earthly confines. This striving, this reaching, speaks to the human condition itself. This image is not merely a record of ruins but a mirror reflecting our enduring quest for meaning in the face of inevitable decay.