Trap bij Malling Abbey 1858

Gerrit Postma made this drawing of the stairs at Malling Abbey with graphite and pen. The site of Malling Abbey, a former Benedictine nunnery, offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between religious institutions and the evolving social landscape. Postma’s choice to depict these stairs invites us to consider how access and movement were structured within the Abbey's grounds. Visual codes like the stairs themselves hint at a hierarchical society, with clear distinctions between the spaces and roles within. This was a period in the Netherlands marked by significant social change, with debates around religion and class playing a central role in the formation of cultural identity. Understanding this drawing means looking at the socio-political, economic, and cultural forces that shaped Dutch society in the 19th century. By consulting historical archives, architectural plans, and religious texts, we can better appreciate the nuances of Postma’s work. Art is contingent on its social and institutional context.