Gezicht op de Abdij van Middelburg c. 1890 - 1910

This black and white photograph shows us the Abdij of Middelburg, and was created by the brothers van Straaten. In the image, the grand architecture fills the frame, its imposing towers suggesting a history of power, faith, and perhaps, exclusion. The very act of photographing such a site implies a certain gaze, one that historically might have been aligned with those in positions of authority. The Abdij stands as a symbol of the church and state, institutions that have often shaped social norms and hierarchies. Consider what it means to document these spaces, to preserve them through photography. Whose stories are told, and whose are left out? The image invites us to reflect on the relationship between architecture, memory, and the narratives we construct about our shared past. Think about how an image can shape and reflect societal issues, inviting us to contemplate the intersection of personal experiences and the grand narratives of history.