Twee engelen binden een koord om Thomas midden 1610

Cornelis Boel etched this print, “Two Angels Bind a Cord around Thomas,” around the year 1600. Here, we witness Saint Thomas Aquinas, beset by temptation, being aided by angels. The cord, or girdle, they fasten around his waist is a symbol of chastity. The image resonates with ancient ascetic practices, where self-discipline and the binding of the body were seen as paths to spiritual purity. Such symbolic binding also echoes in other contexts, such as the girdles worn by women to control their bodies, revealing a deeper cultural anxiety about desire. This motif of binding transcends mere physical restraint; it speaks to a profound psychological struggle, a battle between the earthly and the divine. These gestures evoke intense emotional states, engaging us on a subconscious level with themes of repression and longing. This very struggle has been depicted, resurfaced, and evolved over time, acquiring new meanings in diverse cultural contexts.