Notre Dame, St. Michael, under the snow 

Edouard Cortes captures the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris under a blanket of snow with oil on canvas. The cathedral looms, a symbol of faith and permanence, dusted with snow. Cathedrals, rising from the earthly plane, can be traced back to ancient sacred groves. This aspiration toward the heavens is not unique to Christianity. Obelisks in Egypt and ziggurats in Mesopotamia share this symbolic directionality, revealing a universal human desire to connect with the divine. Here, snow, traditionally associated with purity, blankets a bustling city scene, softening the edges and muting the sounds of urban life, creating a dreamlike tableau. The presence of people and a streetcar suggests the continuation of life and movement amidst the serene backdrop of the snow-covered cathedral, a juxtaposition that underscores the enduring dialogue between the sacred and the secular. This scene is not static, but a dynamic interplay of cultural symbols, revealing the timeless search for meaning and connection in an ever-changing world.