Monnik en een vrouw 1670 - 1704

This drawing by Cornelis Dusart, made sometime in the late 17th century, depicts a monk and a woman. The composition is organized within a circle, creating an intimate, almost voyeuristic view into a private scene. Dusart uses a subtle yet effective contrast between light and shadow to sculpt his figures. The texture of the monk’s beard and the woman’s dress are rendered with meticulous detail, inviting the viewer to consider the material reality of the scene. Notice how the artist employs a semiotic system of signs through objects, such as the surgical tools, the rosary, and the wine glass. The drawing destabilizes established meanings. The contrast between religious and earthly elements raises questions about the values, morality, and categories of the time. The circular frame and the calculated use of chiaroscuro invites us to interpret this artwork and to question the meanings it presents.