Centsprent: Hier ziet ge ‘t leven en bedrijf Van Jan de wassener en zijn wijf. No. 5.

Beschrijving

Catchpenny print showing the life of Jan de Wasser who takes over the household chores of his wife, such as cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children. His story was one of the most popular subjects depicted in children’s prints, having been printed in many forms and versions by publishers such as De Groot, Van der Putte, Noman, Brepols and Glenisson. Jan de Wasser is primarily known as the man who takes on women’s work, but he also was the typical example of a henpecked husband.The stories of Jan and Griet go back to the theme of the fight for the trousers (‘Strijd om de broek’), where the woman changes her skirt and apron for her husband’s trousers. It is the world depicted ‘upside down’. The topic of Women’s power over men (‘Weibermacht’) has been a popular topic in visual art since the 13th century, having been depicted by artists like Israhel van Meckenem and Lucas van Leyden. Probably 17th-century farces (kluchten) such as Cornelis de Bie’s Jan Goethals en Griet syn wyf from 1670 led to the Jan-de-Wasser story taking its definitive form.Den Bosch, Lutkie & Cranenburg (1848 – 1881), numbered ‘No. 5.’ in the top.