Hier ziet ge, ô kinders! u ten afschrik, afgebeeld, / Welke ongeregeldheen het kwaad huishouden teelt / Daar man en vrouw weerzyds door tweedragt aangedreven, / In dronkenschap, gekyf en slaan, ellendig leven 1715 - 1813

This print, made by erven weduwe Cornelis Stichter, warns children of the perils of an unruly household, illustrating the chaos that arises from discord and drunkenness. Notice how the imagery unfolds in two distinct registers, an allegory of social breakdown. The upper scene depicts a disorderly procession, bodies overlapping and intertwined, signifying a community overwhelmed by vice. Below, a domestic interior erupts into violence: the wife wields an ax, her figure echoing the ancient motif of the enraged woman, while the husband cowers, mirroring figures from classical depictions of madness. These gestures recur throughout art history, appearing in varied guises, each transformation imbuing them with new cultural significance. Consider the ax, a tool of creation turned instrument of destruction. Its presence touches on the Freudian concept of the destructive drives inherent in the human psyche. The enduring appeal of such imagery lies in its ability to tap into our collective memory, evoking primal fears and desires. We are reminded that the destruction of harmony in the household and community is a tale retold through generations, and that these symbols continue to resonate, evolving, and adapting across time.