Jochem Poensgen
Church stained glass windows from Hohnekirche, Soest, 1992
It sounds contradictory, but Jochem Poen
sgen’s church stained glass windows are more about the church than the windows. His stated priority is to make windows you can live with, not windows to look at. Lots of modern stained glass windows fight to make a statement and to proclaim the artists’ presence, but Poensgen sees his work as being an integral part of the building rather than an end in themselves.
Having been lucky enough to see the stain glass windows at Hohnekirche in Soest, I can testify to Poensgen’s success in achieving his aims. Built in 1220 and decorated with contemporaneous paintings it would’ve been easy to compete, rather than complement the architectural decoration. By choosing colours from the murals that in turn echo the local sandstone, the religious stained glass is appropriately located in place. This understatement extends to religious iconography – this is the subtlest stained glass crucifix I’ve ever seen!
In its own late 20thC way, Poensgen’s work reflects the patterned detail of the early 13thC architectural decoration, proving that modern stained glass doesn’t always have to be accompanied by a modern ego!
Church Stained Glass Windows Hub
Medieval stained glass windows
Wilhelm Buschulte’s stained glass windows
These modern stained glass windows are a mystery
Mark Angus stained glass window panels
More church windows by Jochem Poensgen.
Everything Stained Glass Home Page
