Zijportaal aan het transept van de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek te Tongeren before 1889

This is an image of the Zijportaal aan het transept van de Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek te Tongeren, or side portal of the Basilica of Our Lady in Tongeren. The photograph captures the portal, built with masonry, likely limestone, in the Gothic style. The material itself, stone, dictated the structure: its weight demanding thick, load-bearing forms, while its carvability enabled the intricate details so characteristic of the period. The construction involved quarrying, transporting, and meticulous carving, processes requiring not only skilled craftsmanship but also a complex organization of labor. Stonemasons, sculptors, and laborers, each contributed to the portal's creation, reflecting the hierarchical yet collaborative nature of medieval society. Ultimately, the portal stands as a testament to both human ingenuity and social structure, where labor, craft, and artistic vision converged to shape not just a structure, but a symbol of faith and community.