Gezicht op de westgevel van de Notre-Dame van Paris 1926

Jules de Bruycker etched this view of the Notre-Dame’s west facade. The cathedral’s rose window dominates the composition, a radiant mandala of stone and glass. The rose window, a symbol of divine light and the Virgin Mary, here transcends its immediate religious context. This echoes the ancient Roman oculus, a circular opening in structures like the Pantheon, meant to connect the earthly realm with the heavens. In both instances, the circle motif serves as a focal point through which spiritual energies converge. Consider how, across cultures, circular forms, from mandalas to labyrinths, have served as meditative tools, inviting introspection and a sense of cosmic unity. Such symbols tap into our collective unconscious. The radiant light evokes a primal, shared desire for transcendence. The recurrence of such images, evolving across millennia, demonstrates how powerful symbols retain their ability to evoke profound emotional responses.