Gezicht op een kruisgang met fresco's in Bressanone, Italië before 1891

Otto Schmidt captured this view of a cloister with frescoes in Bressanone, Italy, using photography. Cloisters have historically been spaces set apart. They offer not only physical shelter but also spiritual sanctuary from the outside world. Often associated with monasteries or religious institutions, they embody a separation from the mundane. Schmidt’s depiction freezes a moment in a place specifically designed for introspection and contemplation. Looking at it today, I am particularly drawn to the idea of who had access to such spaces. How gender, class, and religious status determined who could retreat into these quiet, frescoed halls, away from the turbulence of daily life. What did it mean to be inside versus outside? This image encourages us to consider the layers of inclusion and exclusion inherent in architectural spaces.