Tobie's Wedding 17th-18th century

Curator: Bernard Picart’s etching, "Tobie's Wedding," presents a scene of domesticity, rendered in delicate lines. The sepia tones give it a timeless quality. Editor: There’s a clear hierarchy displayed. The men sit at the table, the women serve, and the angel…guards? It’s a fascinating look at societal roles. Curator: The labor involved in creating this intaglio print is also of interest. Each line painstakingly etched, reflecting the labor inherent in traditional marriage itself. Editor: Right, and seeing this image now, we have to acknowledge that marriage, historically, was as much about property and lineage as it was about love. The angel's presence only amplifies that. Curator: Ultimately, Picart’s print offers a glimpse into the material culture of the 18th century, providing insight into the means of production and also into the social contracts of its time. Editor: Precisely. By examining this image, we are also interrogating the power dynamics that underpinned the creation and consumption of such images in their historical moment, and perhaps even today.