Main Entrance of Great Mosque, 

Curator: This is John Frederick Lewis's "Main Entrance of Great Mosque," a drawing rendered in ink and paper. Its aesthetic evokes a specific period fascination with the 'Orient.' What are your initial thoughts? Editor: A quiet spaciousness, almost dreamlike. The architectural forms, rendered with such delicate precision, invite contemplation and suggest something timeless, perhaps immutable. It evokes a feeling of peaceful observation. Curator: Observe the symmetry and repetition within the architectural structure, from the pillars to the geometric patterns on the ceiling. Notice how Lewis uses line and shading to create depth, guiding our eyes toward the shadowed recesses. These formal elements organize the composition into distinct planes and balance light with shade. Editor: Yes, the play of light and shadow is quite compelling. It lends an aura of mystery to the scene. The open doorway becomes a potent symbol—an invitation to enter, but also perhaps to seek enlightenment or a connection to the divine. It embodies transition. Curator: I agree, it draws the viewer in, yet what meaning can we take from it in relation to other cultural expressions of the period? What impact did Islamic Art and culture have? Editor: Given the period, we need to also reflect on the Western perspective of Lewis who belonged to the school of orientalism. The mosque could symbolize both exoticism and spirituality in the common Western conscious, where Islam remained as a constant cultural background throughout history. The artist skillfully uses visual cues to provoke curiosity about different cultures. Curator: Perhaps it can be regarded that it reveals an insight that only someone familiar with semiotics or structuaralism could decode? Editor: Quite possibly, with that consideration perhaps an individual might start to decode more and realize more about Western perception. However, considering both symbol and form, together a stronger and more profound emotional response appears to come out. Curator: That may indeed be true, that in essence we should think about both. I found the architectural form intriguing but I agree on further consideration the play between cultures makes it even more significant. Editor: Agreed, by considering the dialogue of the Western interpretation through symbol in Lewis' work and Islamic faith through architectural and form we find more.