Two Men Holding Boulder over Prostrate Man with Manacles n.d.

Editor: This is Victor Honoré Janssens’ “Two Men Holding Boulder over Prostrate Man with Manacles,” date unknown, a chalk, ink, and colored pencil drawing currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. It definitely strikes me as an image depicting oppression, violence. How do you interpret this work? Curator: You’re right to see that violence so immediately. For me, Janssens’s drawing becomes a site to explore the intersection of power, control, and resistance within historical contexts of social justice. Consider the prostrate figure: What narratives are silenced or marginalized by the dominant forces represented by the men with the boulder? Editor: So you’re thinking beyond the literal scene and more about its representation of power structures? I hadn’t considered that. Curator: Precisely. And thinking about the use of colored pencil, chalk and ink, how might those choices reflect the instability or fragility of these power dynamics? What other stories or figures can we envision reflected in this piece, when thinking about today? Editor: That's a great question. In today's context, it reminds me of, like, marginalized communities facing systemic oppression and the constant threat of physical or symbolic violence, still underrepresented. Curator: Indeed. Janssens offers an entry point to a vital and continuing dialogue. Thinking about today is really the point. Editor: This reframing really opens up my perspective and helps me see how art can become a powerful tool for advocacy. Thanks! Curator: And thank you. Your reflections bring contemporary resonance to the narratives Janssens started, reminding us to keep pushing for systemic change.