The Power of Women

Since the down of civilization men celebrated the power of Women. Even the Bible, the Good Book, includes many stories of strong Women winning over men. Sex, violence and supernatural happenings were always important sources of inspirations for visual artists. The pictorial and narrative excitement of biblical Women's narratives, full of sexual sentiment, has been interpreted in many different ways over the ages.

The Fall of Man

Netherlandish prints of the 16th century gave viewers not only new ways of relating to Scripture, but also allowed ordinary people to buy such items to use in their homes for their own "devotional purposes".  No surprise the series dedicated to the "Power of Women" have been very popular. Captioned with a quotation from Ecclesiasticus: "All evil is small in comparison to the evil of a Woman", the prints should also illustrate Women's ability to make fools of even the wisest and most powerful men.

Salome

Lucas van Leyden (1494-1533), a Dutch engraver and painter, created two series of woodcuts (The Large Power of Women in 1514 and The Small Power of Women in 1517) and several engravings of the theme. He also included picture of Virgil in a basket into his series. According to legend, Virgil fell in love with the Roman emperor's Daughter. She promised to raise him in Her bedroom in a basket, but left him dangling halfway to be mocked by passersby the following day.

Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket

Solomon's Idolatry

Philips Galle (1537-1612), Dutch engraver, designer and printmaker, published around 1569 a series called The Power of Women.

Jael slaying Sisera

Judith slaying Holofernes

Samson and Delilah

Classical interpretation of these images would be a warning against the destructive power of Women. They are no longer the abstract type of Virgin, Women on these pictures are transformed into vengeful, bloodthirsty creatures. However, such explanation ignores explicit erotism and masochistic pleasure embodied in these pictures.