Ontwerp voor raam in het Noordertransept in de Dom te Utrecht c. 1934

Editor: Here we have Richard Nicolaüs Roland Holst's "Design for a Window in the North Transept of the Utrecht Cathedral," created around 1934 using drawings on paper. The stark lines and geometric shapes give it a very modern, almost fractured feel. How do you interpret this work, focusing on its form? Curator: Formally speaking, we can see Holst’s piece deconstructs and then reconstructs the expected stained glass window. Observe the lines: how they create distinct planes, guiding the eye in a non-linear fashion. Are they purely decorative or, perhaps, structural? Editor: I see that. The shapes aren't traditional for a cathedral window. They’re abstract, almost jarring against the earth-toned background. It disrupts what I’d expect. Curator: Precisely. Holst seems more interested in the interplay of shapes, and the very concept of division and the visual weight certain geometrical elements seem to generate than a cohesive representational narrative. What strikes you about the coloration of this geometrical division? Editor: It's quite muted, a blend of browns and blacks. It almost drains the color, it isn't "glass-like", I would say. What kind of relationship can we build between form and materials then? Curator: Indeed. By focusing on line, shape, and color, Holst manipulates the viewer’s perception of the work, demanding we appreciate the elements themselves rather than their representational potential. Editor: That's a really interesting point. It encourages a new perspective on how to perceive a traditional form such as the window. Curator: Indeed, I hadn't noticed until now how its material execution brings up discussions about formal values, the composition creates more than it seems. Thanks to your insights.