Jonge liefdesparen in tuin c. 1595

Pieter de Jode the Elder created this engraving, "Young Lovers in a Garden," sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. It depicts a scene of intimacy, yet it's subtly pierced by the presence of onlookers. During this period, the garden was often portrayed as a space for courtship, but also as a stage for social performances. Here, the lovers are engrossed in one another, almost oblivious to the couple in the background. This dynamic suggests a tension between private feelings and public expectations. The work subtly hints at the complex choreography of love and marriage within the social structures of the time. While the lovers embrace, there's an awareness of being watched, judged. This print invites us to reflect on the ways in which our most personal moments are often shaped and framed by societal norms.