Mesure pour mesure 1898

This print by Robert Hista promotes a staging of Shakespeare's *Measure for Measure.* Notice the figures: a man in a monk's robe pointing, another man seemingly attempting to bribe a judge, and other characters looming nearby. The monk’s robe is a significant symbol, traditionally associated with piety and moral authority. Yet, here, the figure’s involvement suggests corruption. Monastic garb transcends time, appearing in various guises from religious paintings of the Middle Ages to modern political cartoons, each time imbued with connotations of either virtue or hypocrisy. This duality reflects the psychological tension inherent in symbols that once represented purity but can become twisted, mirroring societal anxieties about power and morality. The staging is intended to evoke intense emotional states by playing on collective memories and subconscious associations linked to the monastic figure. The robe's appearance has resurfaced and evolved through history, taking on new meanings in different contexts, highlighting the cyclical progression of symbols in cultural memory.