Gedecoreerd hek rond een kapel in de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk te Dendermonde before 1889

Editor: This is a photograph from before 1889 of a decorated screen or gate around a chapel in the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk in Dendermonde. The architecture is ornate and sort of imposing. What historical narratives might this structure embody? Curator: This image speaks volumes about power, access, and exclusion within the Church. The ornate screen, acting as a physical and symbolic barrier, highlights a hierarchy of space and participation. Who was kept out, and why? Think about class, gender, and perhaps even political affiliations. Editor: So the decoration isn’t just aesthetic; it's about control? Curator: Precisely. Consider the economic resources required to create such a barrier. This wasn’t just about devotion; it was also about displaying wealth and solidifying social standing. Who funded its construction, and what did they gain from it? It becomes a visual manifesto of societal structures. Editor: I hadn’t thought about the wealth aspect so directly, but that makes a lot of sense given the time period. Curator: Also consider the placement within the church. Was this chapel intended for a specific group? Perhaps a guild, a wealthy family, or a religious order with its own distinct agenda. Space within a sacred building can be fraught with tension. Editor: Thinking about the 'who' is making me rethink the purpose of decoration, as you said, almost as a manifesto, visually separating some people from others, even within a shared space. Curator: Indeed. It urges us to consider how even within a space dedicated to shared belief, the material realities of power and exclusion are always present. Editor: I see the church and even faith through new critical lens. Thanks.