Gezicht op abdijgebouwen aan de Balans te Middelburg c. 1900

The brothers Van Straaten created this print of the Abbey buildings on the Balans in Middelburg, using a technique that renders a photographic image as a detailed lithograph. This image invites us to consider the role of art in shaping cultural memory and historical narratives. Made in the Netherlands, the architecture reflects the region's rich history, religious life and civic development. The Abbey, initially a religious institution, became a space of political power. Here, the artist captures its monumental scale, which speaks to the enduring influence of religious and political institutions on Dutch society. To truly understand its significance, one might explore archives, historical documents, and studies of Dutch architectural history. In this way we can appreciate art’s dynamic relationship with social context.