Gezicht op de ruïnes van de abdij van Villers 1824 - 1871

Théodore Fourmois created this print of the ruins of Villers Abbey using etching and drypoint techniques. Fourmois was working in a Belgium still reeling from the Napoleonic wars, and forging its own national identity in the face of foreign occupation and revolution. Monasteries like Villers, which had been destroyed during the French Revolution, became potent symbols of a lost heritage. This etching is a romantic vision of decay. The artist’s choice of ruins asks the viewer to consider the temporary nature of human achievements in relation to the enduring power of nature. The image conveys a sense of melancholy, a yearning for a past that can never be recovered. Consider the lone figure amidst the ruins, perhaps a monk, a custodian, or just a wanderer, a representation of resilience and perseverance. Fourmois invites us to reflect on the cyclical nature of history, the rise and fall of civilizations, and the inevitable passage of time. What do we lose when historical structures disappear? What do we gain?