Interieur van een ontgraven crypte in de Geertruidskerk te Geertruidenberg 1895

This is a photograph of an excavated crypt inside the Geertruidskerk in Geertruidenberg, taken by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg. There is a certain power in uncovering the hidden spaces of the past. This image captures a moment of historical revelation. The crypt, once a place of solemn entombment, is exposed. What secrets did this space hold? What lives and stories were confined within these brick walls? The act of excavation is not just about revealing physical space, but it unearths histories, memories, and perhaps even forgotten identities. Consider the labor involved in building this crypt, in burying and memorializing those who were deemed worthy of such a resting place. This photograph invites us to consider the lives of those interred, and the social structures that determined their status. The image bears witness to time and history. It’s a poignant reflection on mortality and the ever-present layers of the past that lie beneath our feet.