Mission Santa Barbara, Looking South 1888

Henry Chapman Ford created this print of Mission Santa Barbara, looking south, employing the etching technique. The most striking feature is the cross atop the church’s dome, a symbol deeply rooted in Christian iconography, representing faith, sacrifice, and redemption. This symbol, however, is not isolated. We see echoes of it in ancient sun symbols, where the intersection of lines signified divine power and the cyclical nature of life. Even the composition of the Mission itself, with its strong vertical lines reaching towards the heavens, evokes a reaching for transcendence that’s been captured in the pyramids of Giza and the ziggurats of Mesopotamia. The subconscious pull of such imagery is undeniable. It speaks to a collective yearning for something beyond our earthly existence, resonating on a level far deeper than conscious understanding. This symbol is not merely an artifact; it is a living force that continues to shape our understanding of the sacred. The enduring power of the cross lies in its capacity to evolve, adapt, and resurface.