Noordzijde van de Grote of Maria Magdalenakerk te Goes 1900

This photograph depicts the North side of the Grote or Maria Magdalenakerk in Goes, taken by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg. While the photographer remains unknown, their lens captures a moment in the ongoing relationship between institutions, identity, and representation. Churches such as the Maria Magdalenakerk weren’t simply places of worship; they were stages upon which civic and religious identities were performed and solidified. The architecture embodies societal values and power structures. Monumentenzorg’s focus on preservation speaks to a desire to maintain a connection with the past, to curate a national identity through the conservation of historical landmarks. Consider how the act of photographing and preserving such structures contributes to a collective memory, selectively shaping how we understand our history. In whose eyes, and for what reasons, are such monuments deemed worthy of preservation? This image invites us to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, and the role of institutions in shaping those narratives.