Titelpagina voor: Les abus du mariage / Misbruick des houwelycx / The mistake off matrimonij, 1641 1641

Editor: Here we have the title page for "Les abus du mariage," or "The Abuses of Marriage," from 1641 by Crispijn van de Passe the Younger, at the Rijksmuseum. It's a print, an engraving. It's striking how similar the concerns around marriage seem to be, even centuries apart. What catches your eye in this work? Curator: Well, first, it is fascinating to observe how languages intertwine and translate across the page – French, Dutch, English. Beyond literal meaning, this juxtaposition highlights a cross-cultural awareness of marital 'abuses.' Do you notice the small printer's device at the bottom? Editor: The little emblem beneath the text? Yes, what does it represent? Curator: It’s more than decoration. Devices like this were common, almost like a logo. These symbols provide insights into the values and even the social standing of the printer. The interlocking figures within the emblem mirror the contentious yet interwoven relationships the text describes. They whisper of entanglement, both desired and dreaded. Think of the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail… Editor: A cycle of destruction and renewal… So, you’re saying it’s not just about individual "abuses," but a repeating societal pattern? Curator: Precisely! What feels startlingly ‘modern’ about this image is how persistent such societal commentary remains across generations. We use different words, but the themes echo through time. What do you make of this echo? Editor: It’s humbling. It pushes me to think about the cultural narratives I participate in today and how future generations might interpret them. There’s so much more than just words here; it is an accumulation of cultural insight!