De huwelijksweegschaal c. 1590 - 1595

This large print, "The Marriage Scales" was created by Pieter de Jode I, likely in the early 17th century. It is made using engraving, a process of incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then using a press to transfer the image to paper. Here, the crisp lines of the engraving lend clarity to the allegory, where we see a bride being weighed against a chest of money. It reminds us that printmaking was an essential tool for disseminating cultural values. The fine detail, the product of skilled labor, would have been carefully considered, to maximize legibility and appeal to potential buyers. It is impossible to overlook the social context of early modern marriage, especially concerning the negotiation of wealth and status. De Jode's print encapsulates the economic realities that often underpinned marital unions. By understanding the production and the distribution of prints like these, we gain insight into the ways in which art was deeply intertwined with social, economic, and moral considerations.