Vogelvluchtaanzicht op het Bethaniënklooster, 1544 1729

This is an etching from 1544, offering a bird's-eye view of the Bethaniënklooster, or Bethany Monastery. The high vantage point allows us to see the cloistered space as an enclosed, orderly world, separate from the outside. Consider how enclosed gardens, like the one depicted, have long been symbols of paradise, evoking the Garden of Eden. This motif of the enclosed garden, the "hortus conclusus," appears across cultures, from ancient Persian gardens to medieval tapestries. Over time, it becomes associated with purity, security, and spiritual cultivation. The monastery walls provide a sense of protection, but the aerial perspective also invites us to reflect on the lives lived within, the human desire for sanctuary, and the psychological need for spaces set apart from the chaos of the world. This desire transcends any one time or place, finding expression in monasteries, temples, and even our own homes. It is the enduring quest for a space of peace.