St. Bernhard Hospitium 19th century

H. Pletsch created this print of the St. Bernhard Hospitium; it depicts a scene of refuge and assistance, reflecting the values of the religious order associated with the hospice. Note the way that gender dynamics are subtly at play here. The woman, caught between the monks and the unforgiving landscape, embodies a sense of vulnerability. Her presence invites consideration of the varied experiences of those seeking sanctuary, and perhaps the negotiation of gendered power dynamics within such spaces. The monks, observing from a distance, introduce questions about the gaze, and who is allowed entry. This image reminds us that even in places of supposed neutrality, social identities shape our encounters and how we navigate the world.