Who painted The Cook and His Wife?

The Cook and His Wife was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1497.

Where can I see The Cook and His Wife?

The Cook and His Wife is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Cook and His Wife?

The Cook and His Wife is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Cook and His Wife

Albrecht Dürer , 1497

The Cook and His Wife is a print by the Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Cook and His Wife is an engraving by Albrecht Dürer, depicting a domestic scene with a narrative twist.

Subject & Meaning

The scene shows a wife and husband in their kitchen, where the wife has eaten an eel meant for dinner, witnessed by their pet magpie. The wife's guilt and cunning are conveyed through her expression and the magpie's plucked state.

Technique & Style

Dürer's engraving technique is characterized by sharp lines and detailed textures, bringing the kitchen scene to life. The characters' expressions and body language convey the story's emotional nuances.

Context

The engraving is a commentary on domestic life and the relationships within it, using the magpie's chatter to reveal the wife's deception and her subsequent punishment of the bird.