An Antique Sacrificial Scene (recto); Sketch of a Group of People (verso) 1779

Johann Eleazar Zeissig, also known as Schenau, created this ink and wash drawing, "An Antique Sacrificial Scene", during a time of shifting social structures. The artwork depicts a ceremonial sacrifice, a theme rooted in ancient traditions. But consider this: who are the figures being sacrificed, and what does their representation tell us about the power dynamics of the era? It's difficult to ignore the gendered aspects of the scene. Women are featured prominently as both mourners and victims. The women appear as figures of vulnerability and passivity, while the male figures conduct the ritual. How does Schenau both uphold and perhaps question the roles assigned to women? Sacrifice can symbolize the ultimate act of devotion. I can't help but wonder, though, about the cost of such devotion. What societal expectations, what personal sacrifices, are being laid bare in this drawing?