Interieur van de Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk te Rotterdam, gezien in de richting van het koor before 1760

This print shows the interior of the Grote Kerk in Rotterdam, captured by Jan Punt. The towering columns and soaring arches, rendered with meticulous detail, speak of human aspiration reaching towards the heavens. But what are the subconscious echoes stirred by these architectural forms? Think of the arch: from Roman aqueducts to Gothic cathedrals, it symbolizes connection, passage, and the bridging of divides. Here, the arches draw our eyes upwards, inviting a sense of transcendence. Yet, the scaffolding disrupts this ascent, a stark reminder of earthly limitations and the ongoing labor of maintaining these sacred spaces. The interplay between aspiration and constraint is a recurring theme in human experience. Like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, this architectural symbol reminds us of the eternal dance between the sacred and the profane. It reappears through time, each time colored by its historical context.