The portal of the collegiate church Nonnberg in Salzburg 1848

Rudolf von Alt painted “The portal of the collegiate church Nonnberg in Salzburg” in the 19th century. It depicts the entrance to Nonnberg Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with a rich history dating back to the 8th century. Alt's painting invites us to reflect on the power dynamics embedded in religious institutions and their impact on women's lives. The cloistered life represented by the abbey has historically offered women a space for education, spiritual development, and autonomy, while also imposing restrictions on their freedom and agency. The solitary figure of the nun at the entrance evokes contemplation about the complexities of choice, faith, and confinement. Alt's work captures the architectural beauty of the portal and prompts us to consider the lived experiences of the women who inhabited this space, their contributions, and the negotiations they undertook within the confines of religious life.