Allegorie op het huwelijk 1723

Jacob Folkema created this allegory on marriage as an engraving in the Netherlands sometime between 1692 and 1767. It presents us with a clear view of how the social institution of marriage was perceived at the time. This image constructs meaning through visual codes that would have been easily read by its contemporary audience. For instance, the classical architecture and statuary place marriage within a tradition of civic virtue and social order. The cherubs represent love and fertility, while the central couple is being guided toward a shared future signified by the open archway. The Latin inscription emphasizes the sacred flame of marriage, an interesting insight into the religious and moral expectations of Dutch society. To fully understand this image, scholars might look into conduct books, marriage sermons, and legal documents from the period. By doing so, we can start to get a feel for how social values are embedded in artistic representations like this one.