Ch. 14. On the authority and governance of the abbess c. 15th century

Editor: This woodcut, "Ch. 14. On the authority and governance of the abbess," shows an abbess addressing her nuns. It feels so formal and a little austere. What do you see in this image? Curator: For me, the image speaks to the complex negotiation of power dynamics within religious spaces. What does it mean for women to have authority in a patriarchal society, even within the seemingly enclosed world of a convent? How might their lived experiences be shaped by both spiritual devotion and social constraints? Editor: That's fascinating. So, you see it as more than just a simple depiction of religious life? Curator: Absolutely. It's a window into the historical realities of women's agency and the systems that both enabled and limited it. It makes me wonder about the abbess's influence in secular contexts. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks for opening my eyes. Curator: It is my pleasure.