Spinnende heilige by Juliaan de Vriendt

Spinnende heilige

1852 - 1913

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Artwork details

Medium
drawing, print, paper, ink, engraving
Dimensions
height 160 mm, width 100 mm
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#portrait#drawing#medieval#ink paper printed#print#pencil sketch#old engraving style#figuration#paper#ink#line#engraving

About this artwork

Juliaan de Vriendt created this etching of a spinning saint, a devotional image, on an unknown date. De Vriendt, who lived from 1842 to 1935, situated his artistic practice in a Belgium undergoing significant social and political change, including the rise of industrialization. In “Spinnende heilige”, we see a woman, presumably a saint given her halo, engaged in the act of spinning, which has traditionally been viewed as domestic labor. The act of spinning could symbolize women's roles, spirituality, and creative power. The etching's intimacy invites us to reflect on the intersection of labor, devotion, and womanhood. While the image appears to uphold traditional representations of women and religious figures, the act of spinning can be viewed as a form of resistance against the industrial revolution. Consider the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece, where the act of spinning becomes an intimate and powerful expression of identity.

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