Spinnende heilige 1852 - 1913

Juliaan de Vriendt created this etching of a spinning saint, a devotional image, on an unknown date. De Vriendt, who lived from 1842 to 1935, situated his artistic practice in a Belgium undergoing significant social and political change, including the rise of industrialization. In “Spinnende heilige”, we see a woman, presumably a saint given her halo, engaged in the act of spinning, which has traditionally been viewed as domestic labor. The act of spinning could symbolize women's roles, spirituality, and creative power. The etching's intimacy invites us to reflect on the intersection of labor, devotion, and womanhood. While the image appears to uphold traditional representations of women and religious figures, the act of spinning can be viewed as a form of resistance against the industrial revolution. Consider the emotional and personal dimensions of the piece, where the act of spinning becomes an intimate and powerful expression of identity.