View of Constantinople 1870 - 1890

This is Félix Ziem’s View of Constantinople, painted with oil. The minarets rising in the distance are visual symbols deeply rooted in religious tradition and cultural identity, representing not just physical structures but also spiritual aspiration and historical continuity. Consider how these vertical forms, reaching towards the heavens, echo similar motifs in various cultures – the obelisks of ancient Egypt, the spires of Gothic cathedrals. Each conveys a reaching for transcendence. The crescent atop the minaret, a powerful symbol of Islam, is seen in myriad forms, from ancient lunar deities to its adoption in Byzantium and eventual appropriation by the Ottoman Empire. The image stirs emotions of longing and connection with the divine. What we see here is not just a static depiction but an evolving narrative. The symbolism has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings through different epochs.