Pefroen, die bloed, doos lys gedwongen / Meer dan een onnoozelen jongen / Verbeterd eindlyk 't slechte wyf; / Door digte slagen op haar lyf 1715 - 1813

This 18th-century print by erven weduwe Cornelis Stichter presents a series of narrative scenes, dominated by gestures of conflict and resolution between male and female figures. These acts of violence echo through time, recalling ancient theatrical traditions, where exaggerated gestures conveyed intense emotions, even primal struggles. The act of physical correction, starkly depicted here, is not unique. We see echoes of it across art history, in Roman frescoes or medieval tapestries where dominance and submission are central themes. Consider how such scenes reappear in later art forms; cinema, for instance, where similar power dynamics play out, reflecting deep-seated societal tensions. Such enduring motifs suggest a cyclical return of cultural anxieties, revealing how collective memory shapes the visual language. The gestures of striking and yielding become imbued with complex emotional baggage, engaging viewers on a subconscious level, stirring uncomfortable yet compelling resonances across generations. The image's power lies in its brutal simplicity, a recurring nightmare.