De listige vrijster of de verschalkte voogd 1757

Pieter Tanjé created this print titled 'The Cunning Spinster or the Deceived Guardian'. Made in the 18th century, a period defined by rigid social hierarchies, this artwork cleverly navigates themes of power, gender, and class. We see a young woman, hand in hand with an older man, seemingly her guardian, as a younger suitor looks on. The print invites us to consider the limited agency women possessed at the time, often subject to the decisions of male guardians in matters of marriage and property. The emotional undercurrent of the scene is palpable. Is this a story of deception, or empowerment? Does the young woman wield her cunning as a tool for autonomy? The tension between the characters, the subtle gestures and knowing glances, opens a space to question the traditional power dynamics of the era. Tanjé’s print acts as a reminder of the complex negotiations of identity and desire that occurred within the confines of 18th-century society.