Gezicht op de kerk van de abdij van Clairvaux 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre etched this view of the Clairvaux Abbey church, capturing the towering spire that dominates the skyline. The spire, a potent symbol, reaches towards the heavens, embodying mankind's eternal aspiration to transcend the earthly realm and connect with the divine. The same impulse that drove ancient Egyptians to erect obelisks and medieval builders to raise Gothic cathedrals. This motif echoes across cultures, each striving to bridge the gap between the material and the spiritual. Think of the Tower of Babel, a monument not only to ambition but to a deep-seated desire to ascend. But what is it about verticality that so captivates us? Perhaps it taps into our subconscious yearning for transcendence, mirroring our own upright posture, distinguishing us from the animal kingdom, symbolizing our quest for higher understanding. Even now, the spire stands as a testament to enduring human aspiration, resurfacing and evolving, forever reaching for the sublime.