The Jewish Bride

I love art. I have visited some amazing art museums and still have a few to check out. I have a few favorite artists that I deeply admire. One of the artists that I admire most is Rembrandt. He has a painting called the Jewish Bride. It pictures a married couple holding each other and in the painting, the woman has one hand on her husband and one hand on her womb. I assume she has one hand on her womb to indicate future children. I like the fact that the newlyweds are an older couple. It does away with the idea that a bride has to be young and pure and full of life.  In the painting the bride has a golden chain around her neck to represent a Lazo, a giving away of freedom. I think to myself, “How does this simple work of art describe marriage so well?”

When a person gets married, or at least when I got married, I understood that children would come someday and that I was joining my life with someone and that I would be losing freedom. I don't mean actual freedom. I'm not in any sense of word a prisoner, but I do know that my husband holds the key to my heart and my future, and I would like to think I hold the key to his.

You become responsible for each other in a very intimate and selfless way. You willingly lose the freedom to be selfish. The most special thing about this understanding is that you do it without any questions. I don't ask my husband for permission to leave my home but I do let him know where I am. I don't ask him if I can or can't spend my earned money, but if I'm going to purchase a large ticket item I give him a heads up. It's the idea that I was taught as a young child that you should treat people the way you would want to be treated. This golden rule is especially helpful in marriage. Does that make me like the Jewish Bride in Rembrandt's painting? I don't know. I'm not a perfect bride or spouse. I don't know if the perfect bride or spouse exists. But it is amazing to gaze upon this painting and admire this loving couple.

Cheers,

Mimi