The Ghent Altar (detail) 1432

Here, we see a portion of the Ghent Altarpiece, a painting rendered by Jan van Eyck. Notice how the diptych's structure offers a compelling study in contrasts and comparisons, framed within a late medieval aesthetic. The left panel shows a statue-like figure draped in flowing robes, its monochrome palette contrasting with the vivid hues of the adjacent panel of a kneeling woman. Van Eyck employs light and shadow with meticulous care, creating a sense of volume and depth that enlivens each figure. His precision extends to the textural details, contrasting stone and soft fabrics. The architectural framework of gothic arches not only segregates but also unites these two contrasting worlds, indicating a complex, symbolic relationship. This interplay between stasis and dynamism, the earthly and the divine, invites us to look beyond mere representation to understand the profound structural binaries at play.