Gedecoreerde eikenhouten zijkanten van een koorbank in de Sint-Bavokerk in Haarlem before 1880

Curator: These are decorative oak panels, likely photographed before 1880, that once adorned the choir stalls of the Sint-Bavokerk in Haarlem. We’re presented with what looks like a leaf from a bound volume, detailing intricate carvings in high relief. Editor: Whoa, okay, first impression? Dark magic! Or maybe just serious meditation vibes. Look at the figures, tucked away in those gothic arches, it's like they're hiding secrets, you know? Makes you wonder what kind of whispered confessions those wooden walls have absorbed over the centuries. Curator: Absolutely. These panels, crafted in the late medieval period, would have served a dual function: as physical divisions within the choir and as visual reminders of moral and spiritual narratives. Considering the religious and social upheavals of that era, they provide us with insights into power dynamics and belief systems of the time. Editor: Power dynamics? I just see beautifully rendered stories frozen in wood. Each figure has such a distinct presence! Do you think the placement of the carvings, high up like that, was intended to intimidate, or inspire a sense of awe? It's like they are characters in a silent film—each gesture suggesting a world of meaning, history. Curator: Perhaps both. Remember that these stalls were reserved for clergy and important members of the community. Their physical elevation within the church mirrored their elevated social and spiritual status. The carvings, acting as didactic tools, would reinforce established hierarchies and norms. They definitely provided ideological reinforcement in very turbulent times, shaping identities, genders, race… Editor: Hmmm, race perhaps less so in this immediate setting, no? But I get your drift. It is about who is literally given a seat at the table. These ornate details certainly elevate the status, no pun intended. You know, I wonder what it would feel like to run your hand over the carvings. Bet they’re smooth after centuries of use. And all those symbolic figures silently preaching. Curator: Their smoothness would indeed be the product of touch and time—physicality layering new meaning to these old objects, creating a continuous cycle of material and social impact, as visitors contemplate the role the church once had within the community. Editor: So much is open to interpretation still! But there is something grounding, yet mysterious, in these old wooden walls…