Kandelaber waarvan het voetstuk gedecoreerd is met drie vrouwelijke halffiguren c. 1525 - 1594

This is Hans Sibmacher’s ornamental design for a candelabra, an etching, where the base features three female half-figures. Made during the Northern Renaissance, this print reflects the era’s fascination with classical forms and its complex negotiation of gendered identities. Consider the three female figures that adorn the base; they're not simply decorative but carry the weight of the candelabra itself. Their presence is a reflection of the renaissance era, where women were often idealized yet relegated to supportive roles, both literally and figuratively. Sibmacher’s design uses their likeness in his artistic practice, which makes the role of women visible, but not necessarily powerful. Notice the grotesque figures and hybrid creatures which contrast with the classicized female forms; what do they reveal about the anxieties of the period? As you reflect on this etching, consider how Sibmacher’s ornamental design challenges and reinforces the social and cultural norms of its time. It encourages us to think about the labor, beauty, and societal expectations attributed to women.