Naakte vrouw met spiegel en weegschaal 1915

Bernard Willem Wierink created this print, "Naakte vrouw met spiegel en weegschaal," employing wood engraving techniques. Wierink’s choice of a nude female figure holding a mirror and scales invites us to consider the complex interplay between vanity, self-awareness, and societal expectations. The artwork possibly reflects the cultural and social norms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when the female body was both celebrated and scrutinized. The mirror and scales suggest themes of judgment and self-evaluation, emblematic of the restrictive roles often imposed on women. The female figure in Wierink's print, standing bare, is a commentary on the burdens of appearance and moral assessment. As viewers, we're compelled to consider the weight of these expectations and to ask: who holds the scales, and what is the true measure of a woman's worth?