Rijksmuseum Meermanno

The exhibition presents a spectacular selection of late medieval books of hours from the collection of the museum, in dialogue with works by contemporary female and queer artists.

The traditional view of the Middle Ages is largely dominated by male-centered narratives about church institutions and political power struggles. However, zooming in on these manuscripts shifts that perspective entirely. These books of hours were the very spaces where female patrons and readers found a unique sense of voice and autonomy. This exhibition shows how identity and intimacy invite us to see the past in a new light.