Spreekstoel in de Sint Baafskathedraal in Gent 1850 - 1900

Editor: So, we’re looking at "Spreekstoel in de Sint Baafskathedraal in Gent", a gelatin silver print taken sometime between 1850 and 1900 by A.F. Deloeul. It depicts a very ornate pulpit. I’m struck by the photograph’s stillness – it’s almost ghostly. What leaps out at you? Curator: Ghostly is perfect! It whispers of forgotten sermons, hushed confessions, and the weight of tradition. Notice how Deloeul frames the pulpit, almost reverentially? It’s as though the building itself breathes with secrets, and the pulpit is the keystone that unlocks them. Don't you feel you are looking into a moment frozen in time, yearning for voices long past? What stories do you imagine being told from here? Editor: Definitely stories of great import! Maybe a bit intimidating, if I were the one giving the sermon. Is the… extravagance of it all typical for pulpits of that era? Curator: Absolutely! This pulpit, like many from the era, is a theatre of the word. It was designed to impress, to inspire awe. Look at the way the figures seem to be bursting forth, demanding attention. It’s meant to convey the power of divine oration. Imagine standing there, feeling that weight, trying to find your own voice within such grand tradition! What does the architecture say to you, here? Editor: The photo is quite striking with that heavy contrast in light, accentuating the architecture. So much detail... almost overwhelming. Curator: Overwhelming in the best way! And aren’t you just curious to see and feel how its narrative changed from the 1800s into today? Now that you’ve given it closer examination, has the stillness altered its whispers for you at all? Editor: I now appreciate how carefully crafted every aspect of the space is and how impactful that can be. I never really considered the artistry involved in even religious pieces such as this. Curator: Precisely. Each sculpture, each curve is part of a carefully constructed performance, a way of connecting with something larger than ourselves. That's why art always has something to teach.