Naar huis brengen van de bruid 1775

Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki created this print titled 'Bringing Home the Bride' using etching. At the forefront, we see Cupid, the god of love, carrying a torch. He holds a banner that reads "Au Rendez-Vous", a call to meet or unite, thus sanctifying marriage. The motif of carrying the bride, central here, echoes ancient Roman traditions where the bride was carried over the threshold, a symbolic act to ward off evil spirits. Here, the bride is unceremoniously bundled in a sack on the back of a man. This imagery clashes with the romantic symbolism of Cupid. The seemingly joyous procession, complete with musical accompaniment, feels more like a sardonic commentary on marriage. The presence of the stork above may have been a reference to fertility and childbirth. This image engages viewers on a subconscious level, evoking the complex tapestry of emotions associated with marriage, desire, and societal expectations. The past is never dead. It is not even past.