Double Portrait of the Painter Frans Snyders and his Wife 1621

Anthony van Dyck painted this double portrait of the painter Frans Snyders and his wife, Margaretha de Vos, sometime in the 17th century. Set against a dark backdrop, the painting presents a study in contrasts – in gender roles and societal expectations of marriage. Snyders, with his confident gaze and relaxed posture, embodies the era's masculine ideals. His attire is dark and somber. Margaretha, adorned in a high lace collar that seems to cage her face, presents a more reserved figure. Her patterned dress adds visual interest. Van Dyck’s choice to depict the couple in such distinct ways speaks to the power dynamics inherent in marriage during the 17th century, and the limited agency afforded to women. The emotional tenor of the painting feels like a performance of social roles. It asks us to consider the individuals inhabiting those roles, and the personal negotiations of identity within the confines of societal expectations.