Monnik pakt een geketende, biddende vrouw vast bij de schouders 1825 - 1863

Guillaume Joseph Vertommen created this print, "Monk Holds a Chained, Praying Woman by the Shoulders," using etching. Born in Belgium, Vertommen’s oeuvre reflects the 19th-century European fascination with historical narratives and romantic themes. Here, we witness an unsettling encounter. A monk is depicted holding a woman by the shoulders; she is kneeling, hands bound in prayer. The setting seems to be a stone prison or dungeon, illuminated by a single candle. The artist presents us with a fraught image, one rife with the power dynamics of gender and religion. Is this a scene of rescue or coercion? The woman’s bound hands suggest captivity and the loss of agency, while the monk’s gesture could be interpreted as either support or control. Vertommen leaves the narrative ambiguous, inviting viewers to contemplate the complex relationships between faith, power, and individual freedom. The emotional tension palpable within the print encourages us to reflect on the historical and ongoing struggles for autonomy and justice.