Monnik zittend met boek en gevouwen handen in een koorbank 1841 - 1886

This is Constantin Meunier's etching of a monk seated in a choir stall, book in hand. Meunier, living from 1831 to 1905, situated himself in the realist tradition. He turned his eye to the lives of workers and, in this case, those who have dedicated themselves to a life of religious contemplation. The monk appears in a moment of quietude, yet the etching suggests a deeper narrative about identity and spirituality. His downcast eyes and folded hands invite us to consider the weight of religious devotion and the sacrifices it entails. The book he holds, presumably a religious text, becomes a symbol of both knowledge and the constraints of doctrine. Meunier’s decision to depict the monk within the stark setting of the choir stall emphasizes the isolation and introspection inherent in monastic life. Does this image reinforce traditional views of religious figures, or does it subtly question the personal cost of such devotion? It is up to you to decide.