Bruiloft te Kana 1594

This is M. Preyss’s rendering of “Bruiloft te Kana.” In it, an etching technique is used to create a theatrical set design for a wedding feast. The spatial context constructed by the columns is reminiscent of stagecraft from the 16th to 18th centuries. Weddings have historically been essential moments for consolidating power and defining social structures. Consider the religious and social significance of the wedding at Cana. In the biblical story, Jesus transforms water into wine, a miracle that symbolizes abundance and divine favor. Preyss’s set design may reflect the period’s social and religious values, reinforcing cultural norms through the imagery of marriage. The artist presents viewers with the setting of the Biblical marriage at Cana, but also, perhaps, a scene for the performance of social contracts, between man and wife, yes, but also between the mortal and the divine.