De huwelijksfuik: allegorie op het huwelijk 1655

Salomon Savery created this allegory of marriage, “De huwelijksfuik,” sometime in the early to mid-17th century. Here, Savery critiques the institution of marriage in Dutch society. This was a society where marriage was often viewed as a necessary, but sometimes treacherous, social and economic contract. The print depicts a large crowd being herded into a fish trap or "fuik," symbolizing the constraints and potential pitfalls of marriage. Figures include a clergyman and people from all social classes. The artist highlights the loss of individual freedom and the pressures of societal expectations that come with marriage, especially for women. The women are shown as trapped, while men are pulling them into the trap by force. Savery develops an alternative narrative by exposing the social and economic realities of marriage and its restrictive nature. This artwork reflects broader societal anxieties about commitment, gender roles, and the perceived loss of personal autonomy, a concern that still resonates today.