University LibraryPrint Collection

Title:

The Cook and his wife exhibition label

Narrative 1

Narrative:

Most of what is powerful about this print is contained in the face of the prints female form. The character’s eyes stare out at the viewer suggesting that she is formulating a plan or devising a strategy; she seems to be deep in thought and her face suggests that what she is thinking will soon become a reality. The fact that the male character next to her is looking at her and not out of the print only lends to exaggerate her power and control over their life. The male carries a number of cooking instruments whilst she wraps her shawl around her, again drawing attention to the lack of power and control that he has. Dürer’s print depicts a woman in control and again one can assume that this was in order to obtain laughs, depicting reversed social order.

Authors:

Walker, Georgina

Dalgleish, Claire

Type:

Student exhibition

Objects:

The cook and his wife