At Death’s Door and Beyond

Death

Don't be startled by the catafalque that stands in front of the altar. This scaffold with a coffin on top is needed to pray for forgiveness of the sins of the deceased. At Death’s Door and Beyond is a temporary presentation on church and domestic rituals and customs surrounding death. On view at various places in Jan Hartman's seventeenth-century residence and in the hidden church in the attic.

Comfort

For centuries, death was mainly a religious matter. In the Catholic tradition, rituals took place in the church, mainly aimed at caring for the soul of the deceased. In doing so, the faithful were given a comforting message: death is not the end, but a new beginning of life in the beyond.

Mourning

This changed in the 19th century. Dealing with death also shifted to this side, as it were. Remembering the dead and keeping the memory of the dead alive became important for those left behind. But not only that. It was also a great opportunity to showcase the status of the deceased and his or her family. Park-like cemeteries were created with headstones, monuments and weeping willows where one could mourn the loss of the loved one. Strict rules and codes emerged regarding clothing, interiors and how people were supposed to behave. Mourning tableware made its appearance and in Amsterdam people ate mourning gingerbread or mourning pretzels.