Allegory of a Man Locking a Woman into a Chastity Belt, Heinrich Wirich, c. 1575 - c. 1600
engraving, h 231mm × w 284mm More details
When the cat is away, the mice will play. The nude woman hands the key to her chastity belt to her husband, who is about to leave on a trip. The maidservant, however, stands at the ready with a spare key. Is the man next to her the lady’s lover? A jester vainly tries to keep fleas in a basket, a reference to the foolishness of the husband, whose hat resembles his fool’s cap.
