Twee fragmenten van pilaren before 1868

This is a photograph by William H. Griggs of two fragments of pillars. The sepia tones and the texture of the paper give the image a tangible, almost sculptural quality. The pillars themselves are divided into registers, each densely populated with figures and geometric patterns. The composition is strikingly symmetrical, each pillar echoing the other in its arrangement of circular and rectangular forms. The use of concentric circles draws the eye inward, creating focal points that seem to resonate with energy. The high relief carving captures a sense of dynamic movement frozen in stone. These pillars function as a semiotic system, a language encoded in stone. The interplay of geometric shapes and organic figures invites us to decode the cultural narratives embedded within. The act of fragmentation here destabilizes the original context of these pillars, prompting reflections on preservation, interpretation, and the shifting meanings of cultural artifacts. The texture and form ask us to consider how these elements function beyond mere decoration, embodying larger philosophical concerns about time, memory, and representation.