Reproductie van een prent van de torens van de Sint-Waltrudiskerk te Bergen before 1881

This is a reproduction of a print of the towers of the Sint-Waltrudiskerk in Bergen. While the artist is anonymous, the image provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural and societal values of the time. The towers, with their intricate Gothic details, speak to the religious fervor and the opulence of the period. Cathedrals weren't just places of worship, they were symbols of power, wealth, and the deeply stratified society. This image, by focusing on the towers, directs our gaze upwards, both literally and figuratively, towards the heavens and the established order. Consider how religious institutions often shaped societal norms, influencing everything from gender roles to class structures. The very act of reproducing this image speaks to a desire to preserve and perhaps even idealize these structures. It invites us to reflect on our own relationship with these symbols of authority. What do they evoke in us today? What do they represent about our past and potentially our future?