Argan belt om zijn dochter Angélique 1878 - 1879

This drawing by Jean-Antoine-Valentin Foulquier depicts Argan attempting to secure a belt around his daughter Angélique, a scene imbued with the anxieties of control. Consider the belt itself; historically, it has been a symbol of constraint, of binding. Yet, it also represents protection. Think of the girdles of goddesses, safeguarding their power. Here, Argan’s gesture is not merely physical but a manifestation of deeper unease: the father's desire to protect his daughter, yet also to bind her to his will. The belt, in this context, mirrors the complex and often conflicting emotions between parent and child. Observe how this motif of binding resurfaces across epochs, evolving from literal restraints to symbolic chains, each instance echoing humanity’s perpetual struggle with freedom and control. It is a cycle of expression, each turn revealing new layers of meaning.