Tweeluik van ivoor met voorstellingen uit het Nieuwe Testament, uit de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal in Doornik, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen before 1866

This photograph by Joseph Maes captures an ivory diptych displayed at the 1864 exhibition in Mechelen. The composition is neatly bisected, each panel showcasing intricate carvings that immediately draw the eye. The material, ivory, lends a tactile dimension, its surface alive with texture. Concentric circles containing scenes from the New Testament dominate each panel, framed by complex foliate patterns and figures in relief. The use of circular forms is not merely decorative; it invites contemplation. The circles create a sense of enclosure, focusing attention on the narratives within. The photograph itself functions as a sign, pointing not only to the diptych but also to the historical context of its display. This image, therefore, operates on multiple levels, inviting us to consider the interplay between form, material, and historical representation.