Zevende kruiswegstatie op de Via Dolorosa in Jeruzalem 1867 - 1885

Félix Bonfils captured this photograph of the seventh station of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Here, in the gloom of the archway, we see a group gathered, likely pilgrims retracing Christ's path to crucifixion. The archway itself is a potent symbol. Throughout history, arches have represented transitions, passages from one state to another, and thresholds into the unknown. Think of triumphal arches erected to celebrate victory and power, or the archways that mark sacred entries into temples. In the context of the Via Dolorosa, the archway takes on a particularly poignant meaning. It is a liminal space—a point of no return. This echoes the experience of the individual on a spiritual journey. One inevitably faces moments of trial and transformation. As viewers, we are drawn into this timeless narrative, reminded of our shared human capacity for faith and resilience. The symbolism of the archway remains a powerful, deeply ingrained motif in our collective consciousness.