Public domain
Unequal Love
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
While the older man embraces her, the woman secretly takes a coin from his purse. This theme, a caution against unequal love, was popular in the 17th century. The print was made in a stipple technique used by silversmiths. Passages of light and shadow seem to be reversed, as in a photo negative. Because of the subtle transitions between light and dark, the image looks almost three-dimensional.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineOngelijke liefde. 1640. Meester NW. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
