Interieur van de Basilique Saint-Epvre te Nancy before 1896

This print captures the interior of the Basilique Saint-Epvre in Nancy, showcasing the soaring Gothic arches and stained glass windows. The verticality emphasizes the divine connection, a reaching towards the heavens. Consider the pointed arch, a motif stretching back to ancient Near Eastern architecture, adapted and transformed through Romanesque styles, finally culminating in the Gothic. The arch isn't merely structural; it symbolizes aspiration, a visual echo of humanity’s longing for the transcendent. We see this upward thrust mirrored in the fluted columns, each line directing the eye heavenward. The basilica acts as a vessel of collective memory. These architectural choices aren't accidents; they're deliberate efforts to engage our subconscious, evoking feelings of awe and spiritual connection. They are a script that has been performed over and over again.