Ongelijke liefde 1540 - 1567

This is a woodcut with some color, made in the Netherlands around 1550. The anonymous artist represents a familiar theme in Early Modern Europe: unequal love. We see a well-dressed young man handing a bag of coins to an old woman, likely as payment for her affections. The image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references that would have been easily understood at the time. The contrast between the youth and wealth of the man and the age and poverty of the woman is stark, highlighting the transactional nature of their relationship. The money chest in the background and the garments they wear are visual cues that signal social class. Such images served as commentary on the social structures of the time. They were critical of the moral decay that could result from economic inequality, as well as the power imbalances inherent in relationships based on money rather than genuine affection. As historians, we might consult period literature, legal documents, and economic data to better understand the social and institutional context in which this woodcut was made.