Interieur van het oostelijke deel van het klooster van de Abdij van Middelburg voor de restauratie, 1891 after 1906

C. Aubry Fils captured this image of the east side of the Abbey of Middelburg in 1891, just before its restoration. The photograph reveals the stark, unadorned architecture of the abbey, which stands as a witness to centuries of religious and social history. The structure, which embodies both strength and vulnerability, reflects the complex relationship between institutions and the communities they serve. Abbeys, historically, were not only religious centers but also sites of power, knowledge, and, at times, exclusion. Aubry's lens captures the building's physical presence and the weight of its historical context. Consider how spaces like this, intended for contemplation and spiritual practice, also functioned as stages for social hierarchy and control. The artist invites us to reflect on the unseen stories embedded within these walls. The photograph captures a moment of transition, a pause before renewal, prompting us to consider what aspects of the past we choose to preserve and what we leave behind.