Een huwelijksvoltrekking met getuigen 1836

This engraving by Haatje Pieters Oosterhuis depicts "A Wedding Ceremony with Witnesses" and was made to illustrate the book "The Rock of Tremordyn", in 1836. It's an intimate look at a marriage, but also a window into the 19th-century Dutch interest in North American life. The artist provides an orderly scene which speaks to the social norms of the time. But it is the underlying themes of class and gender that intrigue me the most. Marriage was often less about love and more about social standing. The woman, draped in white, symbolizes purity but also becomes a symbol of exchange between families. She stands passively, her identity merging with her new role. This image both reflects and shapes perceptions of marriage, reminding us of the complex interplay between personal emotions and societal expectations. How might this scene differ if viewed from the bride's perspective, or that of a guest?