Reflections of a Wife

This cycle of five photographs was created in the wake of the unexpected discovery of a prayer book dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. The book contains advice to wives as to how they should act, how they should relate to their husband, what they may and may not permit themselves to do, etc. These days such recommendations may strike many women as ridiculous and pathetic. However, Thelenová finds in them the tenderness and fragility of married life. Her photos create a poetic image of the work of a housewife, in which the photographs are placed next to the historical text. The entire work exudes a quiet, calm atmosphere, though can be unnerving for modern women.