Twee soldaten bij een heks in een grot 1839 - 1895

Théodore Gérard made this print of two soldiers encountering a witch in a cave at an unknown date. The soldiers are dressed in classical garb, evoking a sense of historical authority while the witch exists outside of that order in a dark and dangerous space. Produced in 19th-century Belgium, this image speaks to a period of intense social and political change as traditional hierarchies were destabilized. The print suggests a culture grappling with its relationship to folk traditions and the supernatural, as well as the place of the military in modern society. Consider the role of institutions like the military and the church in shaping cultural attitudes towards women and other marginalized groups during this era. By consulting historical records, literary sources, and other visual materials from the time, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and political forces that shaped Gérard’s art.