Twee gezichten op de gangen van het klooster bij de kathedraal van Monreale before 1886

Here are two studies of the cloisters at Monreale Cathedral, in a monochromatic print. The composition invites us to consider the interplay of light and shadow, that carves out the architectural forms. The upper image shows a perspective view, with light raking across the pavement, accentuating the receding colonnade. The photograph is divided into a system of light and shadow, marking a visual rhythm that guides the eye. Below, the view is of a courtyard with a fountain, the colonnades creating a semiotic frame for the natural space within. The structure implies enclosure, a dialogue between the contained and the infinite. In both, the repetitive nature of the arcades suggests an almost mathematical structure, which may be seen as a metaphor for the organization of knowledge and power. This photographic documentation turns the cathedral into a site of historical and cultural interpretation. The visual strategies employed here, such as perspective and the contrasting interplay of light and dark, underscore the artwork's formal qualities and its engagement with larger philosophical questions.