Meisje met een houten beeld van een capucijner monnik c. 1766

Pierre Charles Ingouf created this print, “Meisje met een houten beeld van een capucijner monnik,” sometime in the late 18th century. During this era, children were often portrayed in art to reflect societal values and expectations, frequently embodying innocence and domesticity. In this print, the young girl’s engagement with a wooden sculpture of a Capuchin monk introduces a complex layer. The Capuchins were known for their vows of poverty and service to the poor. How might we interpret this juxtaposition of childhood innocence with the solemnity of religious dedication? Is the girl absorbing the values associated with religious devotion, or is this object simply a plaything? The girl's ambiguous expression gives no definitive answer, and the artwork refrains from imposing a singular narrative. We might also consider how gender and class dynamics are at play here. The girl’s attire suggests a certain social standing. How does her engagement with the monk sculpture reinforce or challenge the conventional roles assigned to women in society? This work invites us to reflect on the ways in which cultural and religious symbols intersect with individual identities.