Vrouw met brief waarin staat dat ze haar man bedriegt c. 1720

This 18th-century mezzotint by Gabriel Spitzel depicts a woman holding a letter with the inscription "Cernua procure pre nummis magna sapins hee videns stulte tecere," which translates to "She seeks riches, with a foolish heart she gives herself to them." This alludes to a common theme in 18th-century Dutch art, which often depicted women in compromising situations. The woman's posture and the letter's content suggest a sense of secrecy and intrigue, reflecting the societal concerns of the time regarding infidelity and female morality. The use of a single color, a blue tone known as "chiaroscuro," enhances the dramatic and melancholic mood.