Bruidslee en Huwelijksceremonie, ca. 1730 1730

Bernard Picart created this print, Bruidslee en Huwelijksceremonie, around 1730. It depicts, in two parts, both the journey to a wedding and the ceremony itself. The Amsterdam in which Picart lived was one of great religious diversity. As a protestant himself, Picart had a keen interest in representing different religious rituals, and this is what we see here. What is remarkable is the way the artist focuses on the rituals of the wedding instead of the people who participate in them. The clothing is rendered in great detail, and the location seems to be in Amsterdam, but the people blend into the background. To learn more about the ways marriage and religious tolerance operated in 18th century Amsterdam, we might consult historical documents such as church records and legal archives. These provide valuable insights into the social fabric of the time, offering a deeper understanding of artworks like this one.