Oude kerk van Vaassen 1794 - 1863

Gerrit Hulseboom rendered this watercolor of the Oude Kerk, or Old Church, of Vaassen. Notice the arches repeated throughout the church, a symbol that carries a profound weight from the ancient world to the present. The arch, initially a Roman innovation, evolved from a structural element to a powerful symbol in Christian iconography, representing the gateway to the divine, a bridge between the earthly and the heavenly realms. This architectural motif reappears through the centuries, signifying hope and transition. Consider the arch's presence in triumphal arches, doors, and windows. The arch has the ability to evoke subconscious emotions and memories across cultures and time. The image of the Old Church of Vaassen reminds us that these symbols create cyclical cultural patterns. They are continuously resurfacing, being reinterpreted, and imbued with new meanings across different epochs.