Gezicht op de noordelijke kloostergang van de Abdij van Middelburg after 1906

This print, by C. Aubry Fils, captures the northern cloister of Middelburg Abbey with a focus on its architectural lines and textures. The composition emphasizes verticality, drawing the eye upwards along the pointed arches and steep rooflines, softened by the variations of light across the stone surfaces. The print’s formal qualities invite us to consider the relationship between structure and space. The use of perspective and the interplay of light and shadow articulate a space that is both enclosed and open. This reflects a structuralist approach, where the building is not just a physical structure but also a system of signs communicating ideas about order, enclosure and spiritual aspiration. The contrast between the solidity of the stone and the intricate details of the window tracery suggest a tension between the material and the ideal. Notice how the print captures a moment of stillness within the structured environment, suggesting an ongoing dialogue between form, function and symbolic meaning.