After the Notre Dame fire, it took only a few hours for shock to give way to consolation and promises of a full restoration of the famous cathedral. Anything else would have been unimaginable, says DW's Rick Fulker.
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The apocalyptic images of the Parisian cathedral in flames are still fresh. And they've already burned their way into the collective consciousness like no others since the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York on September 11, 2001.
It's an emotionally painful event. The embodiment of Gothic architecture, Notre Dame is — or was? — one of France's most frequently visited monuments. It's a structure that has stood for the greater part of a millennium and an incomparable attraction for Christians, those interested in art and culture, and tourists.
And Paris, again! After the horrific terror attacks associated with Charlie Hebdo and the Bataclan, this sad news penetrates to the core. While at this point the fire's cause appears to have been accidental, it nonetheless demonstrates just how thin and fragile the varnish of civilization is. How many wounds can the proud city sustain?
Empathy and unwelcome advice
Words of shock and consolation issued forth immediately. French President Emmanuel Macron called Notre Dame "the epicenter of our lives" and described the collective pain: "A part of us is burning."
Even US President Donald Trump, not known to be highly interested in cultural artifacts, lamented the destruction of "one of the greatest treasures of the world" and "a part of our culture." Not content with that, he issued a recommendation that the French authorities act quickly and even offered unsolicited advice on how to fight the fire.
Restoration = Destruction?
Since two centuries of construction ended in 1345, Notre Dame has remained standing on that tiny island in the River Seine — though not without changes. What hasn't this lady already withstood? Finding the interior anachronistic, Louis XIV had it thoroughly altered in the 17th century. In the aftermath of the French Revolution, the cathedral was gutted and used as a wine storage facility. It survived two world wars. It was as if it would — no, as if it must — stand there forever.
In fact, the house of worship was badly in need of restoration. Gargoyles had broken off, buttresses were discolored by air pollution, water had penetrated cracks in the spire's wooden frame. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but it seems to have been an accident that happened in the course of restoration work.
Should that turn out to be true, the paradox would be awesome: In an attempt to save the building, it was destroyed. An encounter of old material and new technology with disastrous consequences.
Paris without Notre Dame? Non!
At some point, more will probably be known about the course of events. At this point in time, the prevailing feeling is still bewilderment. But Paris without Notre Dame? Unimaginable!
Less than 24 hours after the fire broke out, the Polish and German governments promised assistance with reconstruction. Two French billionaire families pledged a total of €300 million ($339 million) towards the cathedral's restoration. The city of Paris announced expenditures of €50 million and a conference to coordinate international contributions. The foundation associated with the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in Dresden, which was destroyed by Allied bombing in WWII and rebuilt after an unprecedented international campaign, sent words of encouragement to the Parisians.
As the hours pass, there has been some hopeful news. The walls and towers still stand, and some works of art and the historic organ from the 1730s have probably been saved.
It's not yet known whether the walls are stable enough to be built on or whether they will have to be removed and replaced.
But it's already clear: The path will be long, but it will be taken. And even if it takes decades of work, Notre Dame will be restored!
Notre Dame: More than an architectural landmark
Paris' Cathedral Notre Dame, or "Our Lady," is an iconic landmark of the French capital and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. But the building has made a mark in literature, art and music too.
Image: picture-alliance/akg-images
The home of the world's most famous hunchback
Perhaps most familiar is the role the Gothic cathedral plays in the novel "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," written by French author Victor Hugo in 1831. The title refers to the book's protagonist, Quasimodo, the bellringer of the cathedral, who is in love with the beautiful gypsy Esmeralda. Notre Dame's high towers are the setting for the novel's climatic moment.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/D. Leal-Olivas
Back in the heart of Parisians
Hugo's novel may have helped revive the cathedral's popularity. During the French Revolution in the late 18th century, anti-church sentiment surged. Notre Dame was plundered, its decorations destroyed and left to sit in disrepair. A campaign to revive the cathedral began in 1844, with many crediting the novel for lighting the spark.
Image: Getty Images/General Photographic Agency
Multiple movie versions
In more recent years, Hugo's novel has been made into more than a dozen big screen films, starting in 1905 with the short silent film "Esmeralda." The 1996 Disney animated film captured the hearts of many young viewers with its musical numbers and "living" character versions of the gargoyles that spout water off Notre Dame's roof.
Image: imago/United Archives
Artistic inspiration
The west facade of Notre Dame is a shining example of Gothic architecture, with delicate arches, nestling statues and two gracefully symmetrical towers. It is one of Paris' defining icons. And as one of Europe's most popular tourist attractions, the facade has been captured every year in millions of visitors' snapshots.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Böhmer
On the canvas
Painters from all eras and genres have also captured the Gothic cathedral in different ways. French artist Maximilien Luce painted his impression of it in his 1901-04 oil painting "View of Notre Dame from the Quai Saint-Michel." He seems to have been inspired by the cathedral, as he depicted it around 10 times.
Image: picture-alliance/akg-images
A glimpse down the streets of Paris
A grittier portrayal of Notre Dame can be found in the 1826 oil painting by the German artist Eduard Gaertner. "Paris, Rue-Nueve-Notre-Dame" shows the cathedral's west facade through the narrow, busy streets of downtown Paris. Gaertner prided himself on realistic depictions or urban architecture.
Image: picture-alliance/akg-images
Picasso's take
Spanish painter Pablo Picasso used his brush to capture Notre Dame on multiple occasions. This version, from 1954, shows a blend of wild fauvist color with an angular cubist style. There is no single viewpoint; instead Notre Dame is seen from multiple angles on its island in the Seine River. Picasso blends the roof of the cathedral into the clouds.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Bonhams
A one-of-a-kind silhouette
Henri Rousseau's painting from around 1909 titled "View of the Ile Saint-Louis from the Quai Henry IV" includes the familiar outline of Notre Dame against the sky. He uses a flat, dark color for the cathedral, and while he doesn't give any of its ornamental detail, the profile of the spire and the two facade towers cannot be mistaken.
Image: picture-alliance/akg-images
A coronation in the cathedral
The cathedral's interior has also been captured in art. One famous work is "The Coronation of Napoleon" painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1806-07. As Napoleon's official painter, David shows his boss crowning himself emperor in 1804 inside Notre Dame. To mark his independence from the Catholic Church, Napoleon faces away from the high altar. The painting can be seen in France's Louvre museum.
Image: picture-alliance/Heritage Images/Fine Art Images
A musical school
Notre Dame has also been captured in music — or at least in a musical style that was developed in and around the cathedral from 1160-1250. The Notre Dame school refers to composers who created music with multiple independent but interweaving voices. The numes look very different from modern musical notation. Here we see a French songbook from the early 12th century.