De goede echtgenoot after 1765

This print, titled "The Good Husband", was created by N. de Boubers. The image depicts a husband and his wife in bed, having just birthed a child. The scene is full of visual symbols of fertility, from the bed itself, the site of procreation, to the act of giving birth that links us to the cycle of life. Notice how the mother’s pose is reminiscent of the Venus Pudica, a classical motif of modesty, here adapted to celebrate motherhood. It appears in Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” which is an ancient symbol of fertility and renewal that finds its way into modern consciousness. Consider too, the motif of care and protection embodied by the 'good' husband. This harks back to ancient Roman ideals of domestic virtue, where the paterfamilias was revered for his role in maintaining the household. Such imagery engages us on a subconscious level, tapping into deeply rooted emotions and collective memories. Through the ebb and flow of history, it resurfaces in new guises, forever carrying the weight of our shared human experience.