Bilder Romeyn de Hooghe (1645–1708) – De Gedachten van den Huwelijx – Double-Page Allegorical Engraving from Alle de Wercken by Jacob Cats (1726)

Beskrivning

This monumental double-page engraving, titled De Gedachten van den Huwelijx ("The Thoughts on Marriage"), was created for the 1726 edition of Alle de Wercken by Jacob Cats. The scene is a rich emblematic tableau of Dutch baroque allegory: on the left, wedding processions and courtship rituals unfold with decorum, while on the right, chaos, satire, and misbehavior reign under the structure of a symbolic marriage cage. Above, cherubs carry banners bearing the title and radiate light and judgment from the heavens. The entire composition visualizes moral contrasts—ideal union versus vanity and folly.

The engraving is attributed to Romeyn de Hooghe, the most prolific and theatrical Dutch engraver of the late 17th century, who worked extensively on emblem books, political satire, and moral allegories. His dynamic compositions, filled with expressive figures, symbolic detail, and narrative energy, helped define the visual language of the Dutch Golden Age’s moral literature.

Jacob Cats (1577–1660), whose works became moral compasses for generations of Dutch readers, blended emblematic poetry, Calvinist ethics, and domestic guidance into enduring visual and literary form. Alle de Wercken was the most complete and lavish edition of his oeuvre.

Artist or Maker:
Romeyn de Hooghe

Dimensions:
34 cm x 48 cm

Medium:
Copperplate engraving (double-page)

Date:
1726 (original composition late 17th c.)

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.