Gezicht op de Kathedraal van Straatsburg 1818

This engraving by François Louis Couché captures the Strasbourg Cathedral, a towering symbol of religious and civic pride. The cathedral's spire, reaching skyward, echoes the ancient obelisks of Egypt, structures that similarly aimed to connect the earthly with the divine. Notice how the rose window dominates the facade. The rose window is a visual metaphor for the cosmos, a concept not unlike the mandalas of Eastern traditions. It represents a microcosm of universal order. The cathedral as a whole acts as a potent symbol of spiritual aspiration. This architectural form has appeared across cultures and eras. Like the ziggurats of Mesopotamia, it serves as a focal point for communal identity and shared belief, reflecting a deep-seated human desire for transcendence.