Allegory of Marital Strife 1607

Pieter Serwouters’ “Allegory of Marital Strife” is an intriguing print, made through the labor-intensive process of etching. The level of detail achieved through etching—the fine lines defining figures and textures—speaks to the artist's skill. Acid-resistant wax would have been carefully removed from the metal plate to create the design, bitten by acid, and then printed. The dense hatching that defines the shadows indicates multiple acid baths. What is striking is the contrast between the highly skilled making and the bawdy, common subject matter. It reminds us that craft is not only about aesthetics, but also communication. Serwouters used his printmaking skill to create a detailed depiction of a troubled marriage, hinting at the social realities of his time. This piece challenges our understanding of art by showing how an artist's technical skill and the inherent qualities of the medium they employ can be used to comment on everyday life and social issues.