Drie monniken 1831 - 1904

Arnoud Schaepkens created this etching, titled "Three Monks," sometime during the 19th century. During this period in Europe, religious life was often depicted through a romantic lens, idealizing monastic communities as spaces of contemplation, devotion, and solidarity. In this print, the monks are rendered with a sensitive hand, each figure conveying a sense of individual character, and the composition invites us to consider the quiet, shared existence of monastic life. We get a glimpse into a community shaped by shared beliefs, and a commitment to a life set apart from the secular world. However, beyond the surface, the work prompts us to reflect on the power dynamics inherent in religious institutions, the exclusion of women from leadership roles, and the complex histories of colonialism often intertwined with religious orders. The image, therefore, becomes a space for contemplating the interplay between faith, power, and representation.