Horizontal Panel with a Thimble Design Below a Frieze with Three Scenes in Arches 1580 - 1600

This engraving was produced by Johann Theodor de Bry around the turn of the 17th century. During this time, the role of women was being negotiated within the confines of marriage and domesticity. The frieze above presents three arched scenes that seem to suggest the different facets of marital love. The inscriptions above each scene point to love and obedience as key components of a successful marriage. Note how these scenes reinforce patriarchal expectations, where the woman is expected to be obedient and the man is the head of the household. The text in each scene emphasizes the importance of chastity and marital love, reinforcing the era’s social and moral values. Below, a thimble design depicts an allegorical scene with classical figures. This imagery could be seen as reflecting the ideals of female virtue and the consequences of straying from them. The very practical thimble is thus elevated with an image of the Roman goddess Venus, who seems to serve as a reminder to wives to remain virtuous and maintain a happy home. The artwork reflects the personal and societal values of the time, while prompting us to reflect on the different ways gender roles and expectations have been represented and reinforced through art.