Koorhek in de zuidelijk transept van de Sint-Salvatorskathedraal in Brugge, België before 1887

This photograph captures a choir screen in the southern transept of the Saint Salvator Cathedral in Bruges. The intricate carvings on the wood are dominated by pointed arches and quatrefoils, motifs deeply rooted in Gothic architecture, symbolizing spiritual aspiration and divine geometry. These recurring pointed arches evoke images of hands clasped in prayer and recall the great arches of triumph from the Roman Empire, motifs that were appropriated by early Christians to mark sacred spaces. Similarly, the quatrefoil, with its four lobes, can be found across illuminated manuscripts and church windows of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. The symbol is charged with layers of meaning, from the four evangelists to the four seasons. Such symbols serve not merely as decoration but as a visual language that evokes a deep, often subconscious, emotional response. Like echoes in the collective memory, the motifs have resurfaced and evolved, enriching our understanding of faith, power, and the human experience.