Deur van de Lakenhalle te Ieper en deur van een gebouw te Brussel before 1881

This image shows two doors, one from the Lakenhalle in Ypres, and another from a building in Brussels. Both doorways are defined by a rounded arch, a motif that speaks to more than mere architecture. Consider how the arch form echoes across time, from Roman triumphal arches symbolizing victory and power, to Gothic cathedrals where it represents divine ascent. Here, in these civic structures, the archway suggests passage, transition, and perhaps, aspiration towards higher ideals of commerce and community. Note the heavy wooden doors, fortified with iron. These are not merely entrances, but symbolic barriers. The X shapes on the lower door are reminiscent of Saint Andrew’s cross, but here they are secular. These motifs reflect a collective desire for security. This deep-seated need, to protect and define space, resonates throughout human history. These doors are a testament to that enduring impulse, evolving yet ever-present.