Allegorie op het Huwelijk (in doos met 43 tekeningen) 1744

Louis Fabritius Dubourg created this allegory on marriage with pen in the 18th century. During Dubourg's lifetime, marriage was less about romantic love and more about social and economic alliances. This drawing reflects the era's conventions while subtly complicating them. We see classical figures, including a helmeted Minerva symbolizing wisdom, alongside Cupid, representing love. Marriage in this context appears as a blend of reason and affection, of public duty and private emotion. What is most striking is the drawing’s emotional restraint. The figures seem caught in a moment of reflection, rather than jubilation. The sketch-like quality lends an air of transience, suggesting that even the most sacred unions are subject to change. This hints at the complex negotiations of power, affection, and societal expectations inherent in the institution of marriage. Dubourg's allegory invites us to consider the personal within the political, and the emotional within the societal.