Derde voorwendsel: de man die net getrouwd was 1558

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this print, titled 'Third Pretext: The Newly Married Man,' during the 16th century, a period marked by significant shifts in social norms and gender roles in Europe. This engraving presents a scene rife with tension and perhaps satire. We see a newly married man being robbed of his money by a woman while his wife sits passively by. This image challenges the traditional views of marriage and power dynamics, portraying women as capable of deception and control within the domestic sphere. The contrast between the active female figure robbing the man and the seated, seemingly indifferent wife introduces complex questions about female complicity and agency. Coornhert’s work encourages us to reflect on the historical and ongoing negotiations of gender, power, and wealth within the institution of marriage. It leaves us to wonder about the emotional and economic vulnerabilities inherent in these relationships.