Illustratie voor de Decamerone van Boccaccio 1697

This etching by Romeyn de Hooghe, a Dutch artist working in the late 17th century, is an illustration for Boccaccio's "Decameron." De Hooghe was known for his detailed and often politically charged prints, reflecting the social and cultural mores of his time. Here, we see a clandestine encounter, full of coded desire. The image speaks to the complex dynamics of gender and power. A woman rushes down a staircase into the arms of a man, while a guard sits nearby. The setting suggests both wealth and confinement, hinting at the limited agency women experienced. The intensity of the embrace contrasts with the passive guard, creating a tension that speaks to broader societal anxieties about morality, class, and social order. De Hooghe's detailed rendering invites us to consider the emotional landscape of the scene, its depiction of forbidden love and the subtle critique of the era's social constraints.