Vogelvluchtaanzicht op het Sint-Geertruidenklooster, 1544 1729

This is a bird's-eye view of Sint-Geertruidenklooster, made in 1544 by an anonymous artist. The image provides a glimpse into the life of women in the 16th century. Convents offered women an alternative to traditional marriage. Here, we see the convent as a place set apart, a retreat from the world. The high vantage point gives a sense of the cloistered environment, literally and figuratively walled off from the world, but also perhaps from the patriarchy. What did it mean for a woman to choose this life? Was it a sanctuary, or a sentence? The cloister offered an education, intellectual freedom, and a community of women, but at the cost of personal liberty and worldly experience. This image serves as a reminder of the complex negotiations women have historically navigated in their search for autonomy and fulfillment. It invites us to reflect on the choices made, the paths taken, and the spaces claimed in the pursuit of a meaningful existence.