Zuilengalerij in het Alhambra before 1898

Rafael Garzón captured this view of the Alhambra's column gallery in a photograph, immortalizing its intricate details. The columns here aren't just structural; they're laden with meaning. Notice the endless repetition of patterns, a hallmark of Islamic art. These patterns speak to infinity, echoing the cosmos. The arches, too, suggest a gateway, a transition. We see the same desire to grasp the infinite in Byzantine mosaics, in the swirling arabesques of Persian carpets. The very act of repetition here borders on the hypnotic, stirring something primal in our subconscious. This isn't merely decoration, but a deliberate attempt to instill a sense of awe and transcendence. It is as though the Alhambra is not simply built but grown, organically, from the desert itself. This potent symbolism reminds us that images are not static. They’re living entities, continuously evolving and carrying emotional weight across time.