Indiase religieuze asceten 1672

This 1672 engraving, "Indiase religieuze asceten" (Indian Religious Ascetics), depicts a scene of religious asceticism in India. The anonymous artist captures the various forms of self-mortification practiced by these ascetics. The image shows individuals in various states of deprivation, including a man suspended by chains, a man hanging by his hands, and another man chained to a tree and dragging his feet. The scene is a testament to the enduring fascination with the exotic practices of distant cultures in the 17th century. This small-scale, black and white etching was likely intended for a book or broadside and is a prime example of the illustrative genre common in the period.