Gotische gevel 1854 - 1889

Cornelis Johan Laarman created this detailed rendering of a Gothic facade in the 19th century using etching. Laarman lived and worked in a Netherlands that was shaped by a growing sense of national identity and pride in its historical past. Here, the Gothic style evokes a connection to a rich, almost mythical, past. The almost obsessive detail in Laarman's work speaks to a desire to preserve the visual language of Gothic architecture, perhaps as a means of connecting to the values and beliefs associated with that era. Yet, we must ask: who had access to these values, and who was excluded? The Gothic style, often associated with religious and civic power, was historically a tool of the elite, used to reinforce social hierarchies. Through Laarman’s intense focus, we are invited to contemplate our relationship to the past. The image raises questions about how we choose to remember and represent our history, and whose stories are privileged in the process.