Titelprent met een soldaat en een vrouw met schildersattributen 1618

This print, titled "Titelprent met een soldaat en een vrouw met schildersattributen," was made by Claes Jansz. Visscher, and is currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The image features a symmetrical composition that invites reflection on dualities. Two figures frame a central inscription. On one side, a soldier stands armed, embodying power and order. Balancing him, a woman with painterly attributes suggests artistry and creativity. The shield above them, inscribed with 'SPQR', evokes the Roman Republic, a powerful reference to law and governance. The balance of male and female figures, juxtaposed with symbols of war and art, destabilizes conventional meanings. The print challenges viewers to reconsider relationships between strength and beauty, between public duty and artistic freedom. This calculated arrangement of figures and symbols reflects a broader exploration of cultural values and intellectual discourse during Visscher's time. This is not just an image, but an invitation to question fixed categories.