Vestaalse maagd met kind wordt levend begraven 1778 - 1855

Jean-Baptiste Peytavin created this print titled 'Vestal Virgin Being Buried Alive with Her Child.' Made at a time of dramatic social upheaval in France, this image of ritualized violence asks us to reflect on power, gender, and societal control. Vestal Virgins, priestesses of the Roman goddess Vesta, were symbols of purity; their chastity was tied to the prosperity of Rome. To break their vow of celibacy was an affront to the state, punishable by live burial. Here, Peytavin depicts not just the punishment, but also the human cost – a mother, clutching her child, facing death. We can consider how the artwork invites viewers to empathize with the condemned woman, challenging the concept of justice when it is wielded to enforce social norms and uphold the state. Peytavin makes us confront the brutal consequences of a society that demands conformity and punishes female sexuality.