Nonnenwerdt 1652 - 1677

Wenceslaus Hollar created this delicate etching, titled "Nonnenwerdt," sometime in the 17th century. Hollar, born in Prague, was a prolific printmaker, known for his detailed landscapes and cityscapes. This image captures the island of Nonnenwerth on the Rhine River, with a prominent church and convent. During Hollar’s lifetime, the Catholic Church wielded considerable socio-political influence, acting as a refuge for women seeking education or an alternative to marriage. The presence of a ship filled with people hints at the island's connection to the wider world, a space of transition and exchange, while the image invites contemplation about the lives of the women within the convent walls, and their relationship to the outside world. Hollar’s detailed rendering invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between faith, gender, and societal structures during the 17th century.