Timpanen van het Sint-Janshospitaal te Brugge before 1881

This anonymous print depicts the tympanums of the Sint-Janshospitaal in Bruges. It opens a window onto the medieval world of the thirteenth century, when the hospital was founded. At this time, religious institutions played a central role in caring for the sick, the poor, and the marginalized. This print offers a glimpse into the visual culture that surrounded these acts of charity and compassion. The tympanums themselves are adorned with scenes of religious and moral significance, reflecting the values and beliefs of the society that created them. Consider how this image might have been received by those who encountered it. Did it inspire feelings of hope and comfort? Or did it serve as a reminder of the ever-present realities of suffering and mortality? This print invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between faith, art, and the human condition in a world vastly different from our own, but where questions of belief and care still remain.