Drie mannen staan op een schip rondom een monnik met rozenkrans in zijn handen 1868

Adolphe Alexandre Dillens created this print, "Three men stand on a ship around a monk with a rosary in his hands," sometime in the 19th century. Dillens was a Belgian painter known for genre scenes and historical subjects. In this etching, Dillens presents us with a rather unflattering depiction of a monk surrounded by unsavory characters on what appears to be a ship. The men seem to be mocking the monk, who is clutching his rosary beads. Dillens lived through a time of significant social upheaval and changing attitudes towards religion, particularly the Catholic Church. The image reflects a broader societal tension between traditional religious authority and emerging secular values. Dillens captures a moment of vulnerability. The power dynamic is palpable. It reflects a period where the roles and respect for religious figures were being questioned in the face of modernity. The etching then, is both personal and political, inviting viewers to reflect on the shifting sands of belief and power.