Noordzijde van de Grote of Maria Magdalenakerk te Goes 1900

This photograph of the Noordzijde van de Grote of Maria Magdalenakerk te Goes, was taken in 1900 by an anonymous photographer from Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage agency. The image presents a northern view of the Great Church, emphasizing its towering facade. As a historical document, this photograph reflects early twentieth-century efforts to preserve cultural heritage. It also invites us to consider the ways in which religious architecture embodies societal values and power structures. The church, dedicated to Mary Magdalene, has, over the centuries, become associated with complex ideas about gender, sin, and redemption. The architecture reflects a time when the Church had the power to dictate societal norms. Consider, as you reflect on the image, how it feels to view such a monolithic structure, and how it asserts itself in the landscape, as a symbol of faith and strength, but also possibly exclusion and control.