Detalje af Domkirkens døre, Lucca 1896

Niels Larsen Stevns made this sketch of the Lucca Cathedral doors with pencil on paper. Circular motifs dominate the composition, echoing symbolic forms found across cultures. The circle, an ancient emblem of eternity and wholeness, appears repeatedly. Note how Stevns captured it, framing the center of the composition. Think of mandalas, Celtic crosses, and the Ouroboros. The circle transcends mere shape, embodying cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Its presence here evokes a sense of timelessness. Embedded within this design, the subconscious weaves its threads. These aren't merely decorations; they're echoes of humanity's quest for understanding its place in the cosmos. The circular form has resurfaced in varying forms throughout history, evolving in meaning yet retaining that sense of totality.