Twee beelden van vrouwelijk engelen met slaghamers in de hand, zittend aan weerszijden van een medaillon, gesitueerd boven een deurpartij. c. 1878 - 1881

Louis-Emile Durandelle captured this image of two sculptures of female angels holding sledgehammers either side of a medallion, situated above a doorway. Considered in the context of the late 19th century, the positioning of female figures within architecture was not unusual. Yet, their typical representation as passive muses is challenged here; in these sculptures, the female form has been reimagined with agency, strength, and purpose. The sledgehammers can be viewed as symbols of power and authority, typically reserved for male figures. The angel's gender adds a layer of complexity: traditionally seen as messengers, their transformation into active agents of change introduces new narratives of feminine potential. Durandelle was documenting decorative statues for the New Opera of Paris. He presents them as active beings that embody a shift from ornamental roles to expressions of strength and capability. This representation invites us to consider the multifaceted roles of women in society and history.