Torens van de Sint-Catharina en Sint-Corneliuskerk te Diegem en van de Sint-Elisabethkerk te Bergen before 1889

This image presents the towers of the Sint-Catharina en Sint-Corneliuskerk in Diegem and the Sint-Elisabethkerk in Bergen, captured through an anonymous lens, reflecting the late medieval and early modern architectural period. The dual presentation invites us to consider the role of religious structures in shaping community identity, particularly during a time of significant social stratification. The churches, dedicated to female saints, subtly challenge the patriarchal structures of the era, offering spaces of communal gathering and spiritual solace. These towers would have been landmarks in their respective communities, their presence on the landscape acting as a visual assertion of faith and power. Consider how the structures might reflect contemporary social hierarchies or offer alternative narratives of devotion and identity, and how the emotional weight of these buildings is as much a part of their presence as the bricks and mortar from which they were built.