Sexueele Zeden in Woord en Beeld: Liefde en Zinnelijkheid

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23238

Title

Sexueele Zeden in Woord en Beeld: Liefde en Zinnelijkheid

Language

nl

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This work explores the history and nature of sexual customs through a blend of literary elegance and historical analysis. Moving beyond dry scientific study or explicit pornography, it examines love, modesty, and human instinct from ancient legends to medieval monastic life. Illustrated with art, it presents sexuality as a profound force of civilization and moral development.

Summary up to 500 words

D. Ph. van Vloten Elderinck's *Sexueele Zeden in Woord en Beeld: Liefde en Zinnelijkheid* presents a comprehensive literary examination of human sexuality, framing it not as a mere biological function but as a central pillar of civilization. The work traverses millennia, beginning with the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve to establish divine love, then shifting to the romanticized passions celebrated by poets and Norse Eddalieder. Van Vloten Elderinck argues that while society attempts to impose moral constraints, the fundamental drives of love and desire remain constant and powerful. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to the complex psychology of shame and modesty. The author posits that shame is not a natural instinct but a social construct and a mode-dependent phenomenon. Crucially, the text challenges the conventional view of modesty as a protective barrier. Instead, Van Vloten Elderinck suggests that the act of covering the body enhances its erotic appeal by stimulating the imagination. He asserts that clothing serves to heighten sexual attraction more effectively than nakedness, as it allows for the concealment of flaws and the creation of mystery. The author notes that in many cultures, specific body parts like the foot were considered shameful precisely because they were so erotically stimulating, proving that shame often functions as an erotic lure rather than a deterrent. The narrative takes a critical turn when addressing the history of religious institutions, particularly monasticism. Van Vloten Elderinck argues that the vow of celibacy, intended to foster purity, often led to the opposite result. He details how the economic power and isolation of wealthy monasteries created environments where sexual repression bred intense, often unnatural, sexual deviance. The text cites historical evidence, including indulgence records, to suggest that many clergy and nuns engaged in concubinage, sodomy, and even child abuse, turning cloisters into hotbeds of vice rather than sanctuaries of virtue. The author concludes that attempts to suppress natural instincts through rigid dogma inevitably lead to a more dangerous explosion of uncontrolled desire, advocating instead for the elevation of these instincts through genuine love.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Sexuality
• Art History