Pulling Open the Curtains on Windows

Windows. No, not the operating system that frustrates so many of us daily, but the real windows - those glassy apertures that have shaped our view of the world for centuries. From the humble beginnings of shuttered holes in walls to the grandiose displays of stained glass that tell tales of saints, sinners, and the occasional peacock, windows have been humanity's way of inviting a bit of light and, sometimes, a bit of scandal into our lives. Imagine the medieval peasant, awestruck by the sight of colored glass depicting angels and demons, perhaps a tad dismayed to find that even in art, they can't escape the judgmental gaze of the clergy. (start

But let's not get too pious. Windows, especially the stained-glass variety, were the medieval equivalent of high-definition television, a divine drama splashed across the stone canvases of Europe's greatest cathedrals. These windows were more than just pretty panes; they were sermons in sunlight, the original clickbait for a largely illiterate audience. 'Come for the salvation,' they whispered through their vibrant hues, 'stay for the spectacle.' And spectacle they were - lavish, intricate mosaics of glass that captured both the splendor and the sins of a society teetering between the dark ages and the dawn of the enlightenment.

Today we’re taking a journey through the evolution of windows, from their practical purposes to their use as status symbols. And we'll peer into the colorful history of stained glass - a craft that is part artistry, part alchemy. These windows, shimmering like the fractured light of a hundred rainbows caught in a downpour, have borne witness to the rise and fall of empires, the march of progress, and the eternal human desire to see and be seen. So, today we’re pulling open the curtains and take a closer look at how something as seemingly mundane as a window became a canvas for - not only this blog post - but some of the most beautiful, bizarre, and breathtaking art ever created.

Through a window, two lovers did peek,With passion that made the floor creak.But the neighbor next door,Couldn’t take anymore,And shouted, "Get curtains, you freak!"

In Iceland they’re called “gluggi”; in Denmark “vindue”; Lithuanian’s call them “langas”; Slovenian’s say “okno”. The English language word “window” originates from the Old Norse “vindauga”, from vindr for “wind” and auga for “eye”. Whatever you call them, windows are something we’ve come to take totally for granted, even though, when you think about them, they’re really something we couldn’t easily live without.

What is a window? Simply, it’s a hole in a wall to let light in (or an arrow out). The drawback with just a hole is that it does not just let light in, it lets heat out, lets the weather in and may let unwanted visitors in. The earliest known “windows”, dating back to around 2,000 BCE in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia,

countered these downsides by using wooden shutters, textiles, and even scraped and stretched animal hides (similar to drum skins) which were dipped in oils to make them translucent and waterproof. This provided some protection and privacy.

At the end of the first century AD in Rome, glass windows made their first appearance. But glass was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and was typically small, thick, and not very transparent. This glass was used only in the most important buildings.

"I used to have a fear of windows, but it's all clear now."

In ancient China, Korea, and Japan paper windows were economical and widely used.

Size doesn’t matter: The smallest window in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, can be found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Toledo, Spain. The window, located in the historic city center, is on the wall of the Cason de Los Lopez.

The building dates back to the 16th century. The window is smaller than the palm of an adult’s hand.

Stained Glass: Stained glass windows have a rich history that dates back over a thousand years, primarily associated with the grandeur of medieval cathedrals and churches. The art of stained glass likely began around the 7th century in the Middle East, where glassmakers discovered that adding metallic salts during the glass production process could produce vibrant colors. By the 10th century, this technique made its way to Europe, where it quickly became an integral part of Christian art and architecture.

The Augsburg Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church located in Bavaria, Germany. Hidden within its walls is an important part of history. The cathedral contains what are believed to be the world’s oldest antique stained glass windows. Some historians believe the windows were created when the cathedral itself was consecrated in the year 1065. Others believe that the panels could not date back any further than the first half of the twelfth century. Regardless of their exact age, it’s clear that the stained-glass windows are likely to be close to 1000 years old.

In medieval Europe, from the 12th to the 16th centuries, stained glass windows reached their peak in both craftsmanship and symbolic importance. These windows were not just decorative elements but storytelling devices that illuminated the Bible's tales, saints' lives, and moral lessons to a largely illiterate population. The windows of Notre-Dame in Paris,

Chartres Cathedral,

and Canterbury Cathedral,

are iconic examples, where intricate designs and vivid colors created an almost ethereal light inside these sacred spaces, meant to evoke the divine and inspire awe.

A young man who lived near BordeauxMade windows that dazzled with glow.But the neighbors, they feared,When the sun disappeared,He’d charge them for his nightly show.

As the Renaissance ushered in new artistic styles and the Protestant Reformation challenged the Catholic Church's extravagance, the demand for stained glass diminished. The craft experienced a decline until a revival in the 19th century, spurred by the Gothic Revival movement and artists like Louis Comfort Tiffany in the United States.

Tiffany’s innovative use of opalescent glass and complex, nature-inspired designs brought stained glass into the realm of secular art and decoration.

Today, stained glass continues to be a medium of both traditional and contemporary artistic expression, now adorning private homes, hotels, cultural buildings, and department stores, where its ability to play with light and color remains unmatched. From a Gothic chapel in Paris to a hotel in Mexico City, let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in the world and see how architects such as Philip Johnson, Oscar Niemeyer, and Antoni Gaudi have used the art form in some of their most iconic designs.

Cathedral of Brasília (Brasília, Brazil)

The Oscar Niemeyer–designed cathedral's distinctive stained glass was created by artist Marianne Peretti in 1990.

The 22,000- square-foot work features waves of blue, green, white, and brown glass.

Sainte-Chapelle (Paris, France)

Commissioned in the 13th century by King Louis IX, this Gothic chapel is located on the Ile de la Cité and boasts 15 stained glass panels in its nave and apse that depict more than a thousand biblical figures.

The panels recently underwent a seven-year, $10 million restoration, during which the windows were removed and cleaned with lasers.

Thanks-Giving Square (Dallas, Texas)

In 1977 Philip Johnson designed a delicately spiraling white chapel to anchor a tranquil three-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Dallas.

The ornate structure is crowned by the Glory Window, which comprises 73 stained glass panels crafted by French artist Gabriel Loire.

Chicago Cultural Center (Chicago, Illinois)

The Louis Comfort Tiffany dome at the Chicago Cultural Center measures 38 feet in diameter, making it one of the largest stained-glass domes in the world.

Held together by an ornate cast-iron frame that features some 30,000 pieces of glass shaped like fish scales, the dome was finished in 1897, the same year the building opened as the city’s first public library. The dome underwent a restoration in 2008 and is now lighted electrically.

Nasir al-Mulk Mosque (Shiraz, Iran)

Finished at the end of the 19th century, this technicolor mosque in southern Iran dazzles with intricate stained glass windows, richly colored tiles, carved pillars, and woven rugs.

Due to its strategic positioning, early-morning light produces a kaleidoscopic effect within the structure, which has survived numerous earthquakes thanks to the flexible wood struts within its walls.

La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona, Spain)

Perhaps the most iconic work of architect Antoni Gaudi, and truly one of the most unique buildings in the world, this Catalan cathedral dominates the Barcelona skyline and contains a stunning rainbow of abstract stained-glass windows.

Although work began on the structure in 1882, Gaudi never saw the windows installed but left several directives as to his wishes for them. Still incomplete, the building is now under the direction of architect Jordi Fauli, who recently announced that the final stage of construction is on track to be complete in 2026, exactly a century after Gaudi’s death.

Gran Hotel Ciudad de México (Mexico City, Mexico)

This 1899 upmarket department store with a soaring Tiffany stained-glass ceiling in the lobby was transformed into a luxury hotel for the 1968 Olympic Games.

The ceiling, which evokes the country’s Mesoamerican heritage, was designed by French artisan Jacques Gruber and also features a Louis XV–style chandelier.

Galeries Lafayette (Paris, France)

One of the city’s most popular shopping destinations, this luxury bazaar was completed in 1912. Perhaps its most iconic feature is the 141-foot-tall neo-Byzantine dome,

which was designed by French glassmaker Jacques Gruber to channel golden light onto the shoppers below, who now reportedly spend over $1.5 billion annually at the fashion emporium.

Nautilus House (Naucalpan, Mexico)

Designed by Javier Senosian, Nautilus House in Naucalpan, Mexico, is an incredible example of organic architecture. Drawing its name from nautilus, a sea mollusk, the exterior is shaped like the animal’s shell.

There are plenty of whimsical details inside including a flower-shaped conversation pit and interior landscaping, though the wall of rainbow-stained-glass windows is among the most incredible features.

Blue Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)

There’s no shortage of stunning details to look at inside the Blue Mosque - officially named the Sultan Ahmed Mosque - in Istanbul. The interiors are covered in more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, while over 200 stained glass windows feature an intricate tapestry of dispersed light.

Campo Santo Cemetary (Ghent, Belgium)

Wim Delvoye, a Belgian artist known for blending the beautiful with the grotesque, has created stained-glass windows that are more nightmarish than inspirational. Fashioned of recycled X-rays of skulls, skeletons, and assorted bones, the windows depict revisions of original figures, saints recast as skeletal remains, or abstract designs.

Linked vertebrae form frames around some of the windows. Spinal columns form figure eights against a background of blood red glass. Embracing skeletons exchange kisses.

The Mapparium (Boston, Massachusetts)

The Mapparium, a three-story stained-glass globe in the library of the Christian Science Publishing Society building counteracts the distortion of land masses reflected in two-dimensional map projections. A walkway leads through the globe.

Following it to the center of the sphere allows visitors to see the world as it existed in 1935, when the map was created. Composed of more than 600 panes of curved stained glass, the globe is in perfect relative scale. 

Which pretty much brings us to the present. Windows are one of the most expressive and vital features of a building, serving as part of the thermal envelope while affording light transmission, sound control, and natural ventilation. While window designs have long varied in opening size, curtain pattern, and shape, they remained largely made from wood until the early 20th century, when steel and aluminum became feasible material options. 

A man cleaned his window one night,And found quite a scandalous sight.Two folks 'cross the way,Had put on a play,In nothing but moon’s softest light.

Square and rectangular windows have long been the most traditional shapes in domestic architecture. But architects and designers today are breaking the conventional window shape without breaking the glass. To close us out, here are a couple unusual windows that offer a fresh perspective on the world.

Irregular polygon picture window. 

This bay window with irregular sides and flowing, curved corners has a midcentury vibe. Deeply recessed, the window frame accommodates cushions for reading, relaxing or strumming the guitar.

Slanted. 

The upper floor of this two-story home is angled to project over the courtyard below. A large window on the front face of it is also slanted to follow the lines and form, while a triangular window with sliding door is on the left side, and three thin and slanted windows on the right.

Strip-scape.  

A strip of glass between two-bathroom vanities extends from the floor across the roof to offer a slivered view of the landscape and sky.

Oval outlook.  

A feature window in the wall behind this bed is like an oval-shaped porthole with a shutter that opens inside the house.

There once was a pane made of glass,Who thought it was smarter than brass.But it shattered with fright,On a cold winter's night,And was swept up along with the trash.

To wrap up our exploration of windows, let's peel back the layers of glass and steel, and take a final, unvarnished look through these often-overlooked apertures. Windows have always been more than just holes in walls; they're invitations to possibility, thresholds between the known and the unknown. They frame the world for us in ways both literal and metaphorical, transforming everyday scenes into tableaux of light, color, and narrative. They’ve allowed us to witness the ebb and flow of time, from the grandeur of Gothic cathedrals to the steel-framed panoramas of modern buildings.

And as much as they've shaped our view of the world, they've also been silent spectators to our lives, capturing countless moments of voyeuristic glory and humble mundanity alike. If only those windows could talk! Through windows, we've stolen glances at first loves, last goodbyes, and everything in between. They've been canvases for artists and playgrounds for pranksters, proving that even the most functional object can become an unexpected portal to artistry and mischief.

So next time you find yourself staring absentmindedly out a window, remember that it's not just a piece of glass separating you from the outside world. It's a storyteller, a sentinel, a silent witness to history, yours and the worlds. And like all good storytellers, it knows when to remain open and when to shut itself against the storm. Perhaps, after all, windows are less about looking out and more about looking in - into our own desires, our follies, and the surprising beauty of simply being human.

Do you have a favorite story about a window? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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