Beschrijving
Catchpenny print showing the history of Jan de Wasscher, who takes over the household chores of his wife, such as cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children. He was the typical example of a henpecked husband. His story was one of the most popular subjects depicted in children’s prints, having been printed in many forms and versions. The motif of the world depicted ‘upside down’ was very common at the time, and changed roles within the household specifically, goes back to the theme of the fight for the trousers (‘Strijd om de broek’), where the woman literally turns the gender roles upside down by changing her skirt for her husband’s trousers . This version presents Jan and his family as apes, giving the story not only a humoristic, but also a more satirical or moralising meaning. Even the priest was given the face of a monkey, which was later considered to be inappropriate, which is why Brepols later reissued the print changing only his face to a human’s (Boerma pp. 391-6).Schaarbeek, Hemeleers & Van Houter (1827 – 1894), numbered ‘83, in the top.
