Doksaal van steen in de Sint-Gummaruskerk in Lier, België before 1887

Editor: This is an engraving of the Doksaal van steen in de Sint-Gummaruskerk in Lier, Belgium, dating from before 1887. The artist is anonymous. It's a little disorienting because of the angle, but you can see an ornate, towering structure, maybe a screen or pulpit. What stands out to you? Curator: The image, although a reproduction, echoes with the weight of centuries. Notice the intricate stone carving; it's a language unto itself. Every figure, every foliate detail, functioned as a signifier within a complex system of belief. Editor: A system of belief? Like what? Curator: The medieval church was a visual textbook for a largely illiterate population. Consider how light might have filtered through those arches, illuminating specific scenes to drive home certain moral and theological points. The doksaal, acting as a stage, would amplify these messages. Editor: So, the placement of the images would have been really deliberate. Curator: Absolutely. Each saint, each symbol, strategically placed to evoke certain emotions, trigger specific memories, and reinforce established cultural narratives. These images speak to us now, whispering stories of faith, power, and the human need to find meaning. Do you sense any particular figures emerging for you? Editor: Now that you mention it, there are several faces that I did not see when I started looking at the artwork...Thank you for revealing more of what went into it! Curator: And thank you for highlighting aspects of this captivating and symbolic setting; every interpretation allows us to engage with that moment in history.