top of page

They called us possessed

Unpublished project, 2018/22

Text and illustrations freely inspired by the events that actually happened in 1878 in Friuli in the small town of Verzegnis (UD): some women showed signs of what would be called demonic possession. Through pen and pencil I tried to investigate the reasons that led these women, young and old, to become possessed.

"Possessed. Witch . Crazy.

At first I was just a woman, a friend, a daughter.

Daughter of the mountains and dark pines.

[...]

We were women, feminis . We were forbidden to read and study: it was dangerous, said the men, the fathers, the brothers, the priest.

Invisible dangers lurked between the letters and words could corrupt the immaculate soul of women.

Not that of men: they are strong, they know.

We were forbidden to know... "

​

They called us possessed

Giulia Cornaggia

bottom of page