Zittende monnik, in overpeinzing, terwijl op de achtergrond de mis wordt gecelebreerd 1816 - 1867

Louis Boulanger made this drawing of a seated monk in contemplation, while in the background the Mass is celebrated. Boulanger lived through times of immense social upheaval in France, and, though he had the formal training of the academy, the turbulence of the French Revolution and its aftermath were formative to his practice. This drawing allows us to reflect on the role of the church in the shaping of identity in 19th century France. Note how the monk is withdrawn from the religious ceremony, his introspection taking precedence. Boulanger captures a sense of isolation, the monk’s internal world detached from the public ritual behind him. Are we looking at the artist’s commentary on faith, perhaps? With its intimate scale, the drawing invites a personal connection. It prompts us to reflect on the tensions between individual contemplation and collective experience, between faith and doubt, between public and private.