A Couple Shaking Hands, from Grotisch fur alle Kunstler 1580 - 1600

Theodor de Bry created this engraving, "A Couple Shaking Hands, from Grotisch fur alle Kunstler", during the late 16th century, a time of immense social and religious upheaval in Europe. De Bry, working amidst the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, presents us with an image laden with the symbolism of purification and agreement. The act of washing hands was then, and still is, a ritual signifying cleanliness and innocence. In this image, the water is poured by winged figures onto the couple's hands. This print offers a glimpse into the negotiations of power and morality during the early modern period. De Bry's image invites us to consider the private negotiations, both personal and political, that shape our collective histories.