Bigorne en Scherminckel 1640 - 1680

This anonymous print presents us with the monstrous figures of Bigorne and Scherminkel, emblems of men dominated by their wives and women ruled by their husbands. Bigorne, that great beast devouring men, embodies the terror of marital subjugation. The image echoes the medieval ‘Battle of the Sexes,’ a theme we see recurring throughout art history, reflecting enduring anxieties about gender roles. Here, the act of devouring carries primal, psychological weight, embodying fear of emasculation. Consider how this theme evolves. From ancient myths of powerful goddesses to Renaissance allegories of virtue and vice, the dynamic between genders is a constant source of artistic and cultural tension. This echoes in later works, where the act of devouring or being devoured carries emotional and psychological weight, revealing deep-seated anxieties about power, control, and identity. Bigorne and Scherminkel are not mere caricatures, they are embodiments of cultural memory, resurfacing and evolving across the ages.