Perugia 1905

Donald Shaw MacLaughlan's "Perugia," now at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents the viewer with a classical church façade, around which daily life unfolds. Note how the figures are arranged, some entering the church, others gathered in groups along the street, under an archway reminiscent of triumphal arches, symbols of power and order since Roman times. This arch, a recurring motif throughout history, has been used to signify transitions, passages, and gateways to new realms. One sees it echoed in Renaissance paintings as portals to divine revelations. Here, it frames a crowd, evoking collective experience, much like ancient processions entering sacred spaces. The church looms large, a stage for human drama, imbued with centuries of cultural and religious memory. This scene reminds us of how symbols persist, reborn in new contexts, carrying echoes of past meanings. Each image builds upon the last, connecting us through shared unconscious patterns.