Altaren 1857 - 1859

This is a design for an altar, made with pencil on paper by Pierre Cuypers. Cuypers was a key figure in the 19th-century Gothic Revival in the Netherlands, a movement that sought to reinstate the values and aesthetics of the Medieval era. He was deeply involved in the restoration of historical buildings and the design of new churches. Cuypers' work became associated with a broader movement to reaffirm Dutch identity and cultural heritage. However, his close ties to the Catholic Church, and his role in shaping religious spaces, also places his work at the intersection of faith and cultural identity, raising questions about the social and political functions of religious architecture. His designs create spaces of awe and introspection. They invite us to reflect on the relationship between architecture, faith, and national identity.