Drie mannen en een vrouw beelden een Duits spreekwoord uit 1608

Jacob van der Heyden created this small engraving, "Three men and a woman depicting a German proverb," sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries. It illustrates the proverb that a woman, with smiles, tricks and cunning can make fools of three men. Van der Heyden made this print during a period when attitudes toward women were deeply ambivalent. On one hand, powerful female rulers like Queen Elizabeth I challenged traditional gender roles. On the other hand, misogynistic beliefs about women's inherent deceptiveness and capacity for evil were widespread. The artist uses dress to signal the figures' status, their clothing alludes to the upper classes, a group of people who had the time and money for courtships. The woman stands in the center, her gestures guiding the men. The proverb suggests a cynical view of relationships, painting a picture of manipulative women and foolish men. Yet, the artwork's small size and intricate detail invite a closer, more nuanced reading of power dynamics and social expectations during this time. The scene makes you wonder, who truly holds the power in these social games?