Man trekt minnaar aan zijn haren c. 1865 - 1866

This is a print made by Johannes Henderikus Morriën, depicting an interior scene with a woman, a man pulling another man's hair, and a dog. The act of pulling hair is central here, laden with meanings that stretch across time. Observe how the aggressor wields a stick, almost like a conductor, making the other man dance as a puppet. This motif of dominance through physical control echoes through art history, reminding us of scenes of subjugation from ancient Roman frescoes to medieval depictions of torture. The shame of the submissive figure, kneeling with hands clasped, is a primal display of defeat. In this scene, the cool indifference of the woman is equally striking. She represents the object of desire, the silent judge whose gaze fuels this power dynamic. This eternal triangle—aggressor, victim, and desired—speaks to the depths of human relationships, a recurring drama played out across different eras and artistic expressions. This act embodies aggression, power dynamics, and the eternal dance of human relationships.