La Cochemar 1770 - 1818

Carl David Probsthayn created this print, called *La Cochemar*, sometime between 1770 and 1818. Here, we see a woman lying in a sumptuous bedchamber, seemingly paralyzed, with a grotesque incubus squatting on her chest. This image is very much of its time, when the Age of Reason was attempting to explain the inexplicable and the "cochmar" was a common explanation for sleep paralysis. The artwork resonates with similar works that depict women as vulnerable to both physical and psychological violation. The woman is a passive figure, seemingly unable to resist the demonic presence, which underscores prevailing attitudes toward female agency and sexuality during this era. As you consider this print, think about how it perpetuates or challenges societal expectations and anxieties surrounding gender, power, and the unknown. It invites us to reflect on the cultural narratives that shape our understanding of our own vulnerabilities.