Gezicht op de kerk en abdij van de Reguliere Kanunniken van het Heilig Kruis in Luik 1738 - 1744

This is an anonymous engraving of the church and abbey of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross in Liège. Notice how the composition is structured around a series of horizontal bands - the river in the foreground, the manicured gardens and then the long facade of the abbey itself. The geometric precision used in the image, from the rigid window patterns to the symmetrical arrangement of the gardens, conveys a sense of order and control. This emphasis on structure and geometry aligns with the architectural principles of the time, which often sought to impose a rational order onto the natural world. The building dominates the image, a testament to the power of the Church and the Abbey. The linear perspective, though somewhat flattened, draws the eye towards the main structure, reinforcing its dominance. Consider how these formal elements contribute to a reading of the engraving not just as a depiction of a place, but as a statement of authority and organization.