Sketches of Gothic architectural details 1861 - 1867

Józef Simmler rendered these Sketches of Gothic architectural details in pencil. The composition is fragmented, with several architectural elements arranged across the page, each delineated with precision. This suggests a meticulous study, almost an inventory, of Gothic forms. Simmler employs line to dissect and abstract the architectural motifs. His interest appears less in replicating the complete structures and more in understanding their components. Each isolated sketch, with its triangular peaks and vertical lines, echoes a wider cultural interest in structure and form. It's tempting to see in these sketches an attempt to capture not just the appearance of Gothic architecture, but the underlying principles of its construction. These sketches, therefore, function as more than just records. They are a deconstruction, revealing the underlying structural grammar of Gothic architecture. Through Simmler’s sharp, analytical lines, Gothic architecture becomes a series of signs, each one a key to understanding the entire symbolic order.