Altaarstuk van verguld en polychroom hout, afgebeeld scènes uit het leven van de heilige Dimpna van Geel, in de Sint-Dimpnakerk in Geel, België before 1887

This is an image of an altarpiece of gilded and polychrome wood, depicting scenes from the life of Saint Dimpna of Geel, in the Sint-Dimpnakerk in Geel, Belgium. The altarpiece creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations of its time. Made in the fifteenth century, the altarpiece reflects the intense religiosity of the late medieval period. The church in which it is housed, dedicated to Saint Dimpna, is not merely a place of worship but also a repository of local history and identity. Dimpna, an Irish saint, became the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness, a significant social concern during this era. The commission of the altarpiece likely served to reinforce the church’s importance as a center for healing and pilgrimage, thereby solidifying its institutional power. Understanding the social conditions that shape the creation of religious art requires historians to examine archival documents and other research resources. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.