"Giovanni Arnolfini and his Wife"
Oil painting on oak wood
by Jan Van Eyck of the Netherlands in 1434
15th century (outside Italy) Northern Renaissance
This painting stood out to me because of its complex nature. As the textbook notes, traditional gender roles are recognized. The bride is seen standing next to the bed while the man stands closer to the window. The window that Arnolfini is closer to seems to represent freedom while his wife is farther away from it and deeper in the room. One could dissect meaning in placement of the nuptials. This careful positioning in the painting signifies the patriarchal society that existed in the 15th century and lingers even today.
Additionally, the convex mirror in the background is an interesting detail. Both the bride and Arnolfini are distorted and two additional characters are seen in the doorway. The dog is placed between the two nuptials and the colors of green and purple seem to stand out. Van Eyck includes himself as a witness in the portrait in the mirror.
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