Man grijpt vrouw terwijl andere man slaapt op stoel 1739 - 1804

Johann Andreas Benjamin Nothnagel created this etching, depicting a man seizing a woman while another sleeps on a chair. The forceful grasp, a primal gesture of dominance, echoes through art history. Consider the motif of abduction, seen in classical depictions of the Rape of Persephone or Europa, where male strength and female vulnerability are central. Here, the context shifts: the grinning faces suggest a bawdy humour, yet the underlying tension remains. The sleeping man, oblivious, adds a layer of dark comedy, reminiscent of figures in folk tales who are easily fooled or tricked. This motif of foolishness and carnivalesque chaos reflects a topsy-turvy world, where social norms are momentarily overturned. Such images tap into our collective memory of human folly. Ultimately, the image engages us on a visceral level, revealing how these gestures and archetypes persist, shape-shifting through time, reflecting our ongoing fascination with power, vulnerability, and the absurdities of human nature.