Thisbe doodt zichzelf met zwaard van Pyramus bij fontein 1660 - 1685

Coenraet Decker etched "Thisbe doodt zichzelf met zwaard van Pyramus bij fontein" sometime between 1665 and 1685 using etching. Decker, working in the Dutch Golden Age, captures a pivotal moment of the tragic love story of Pyramus and Thisbe. In Decker's telling Thisbe, faced with the mistaken belief that her lover Pyramus is dead, chooses to end her own life with his sword. Representations of women in the 17th century often placed them in passive roles, but here, Thisbe takes decisive action. There is a notable sense of desperation as she raises the sword to pierce her chest. This etching invites reflection on gender, agency, and the narratives that shape our understanding of love and loss. Decker compels us to consider the emotional and social complexities faced by individuals, especially women, within the confines of societal expectations.