Detail van het doksaal in de Kloosterkerk Ter Apel 1893

This photograph documents a wooden rood screen detail in the Kloosterkerk Ter Apel, created by an unknown hand. Wood is an especially resonant material. It has a direct connection to the natural world, yet is also easily adapted to human purpose. Look at how the wood has been carved in fine detail, following the late Gothic style. This was achieved with sharp chisels and planes, in the hands of highly skilled carpenters. It is laborious work, requiring years of practice to master. Woodworking has always been essential, but its status is complicated. On one hand, it is associated with basic needs, like shelter and furniture. On the other, it can be elevated to the level of high art, as seen here. In this church rood screen, the anonymous woodworkers who fabricated it pushed the material to its limits, achieving an effect of elaborate refinement. It shows that all making has the potential for creativity.