Exterieur van het Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde te Rouen c. 1875 - 1900

Méderic Mieusement captured the Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde in Rouen with a camera. The eye is drawn to the intricate carvings that adorn its facade, windows, and roofline—a visual language deeply rooted in the Gothic and Renaissance periods. The pointed arches and delicate tracery that frame the windows echo the vaulting aspirations of medieval cathedrals. These elements speak to a yearning for the divine and a connection to the sacred, symbolizing humankind’s reach toward the heavens. Similarly, the gargoyles that perch on the building's edges are not merely decorative; they are guardians, their grotesque forms meant to ward off evil spirits and protect the inhabitants within. Across time, these architectural motifs reappear—in the gothic cathedrals of Europe, in the illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. These symbols, passed down through generations, continue to evoke our deepest fears and desires. The enduring presence of these symbols reflects a cyclical progression, continually resurfacing and evolving across historical contexts.