Gehelmde vrouw met schild en speer 1547 - 1612

Philips Galle created this print, "Gehelmde vrouw met schild en speer," or "helmeted woman with shield and spear," sometime between 1552 and 1612, using engraving techniques. It's a symbolic image, characteristic of the period, and these symbols would have been well understood by Galle's contemporaries. We see a woman with a helmet, shield and spear, who must represent an idea such as justice, reason or virtue. She stands over a satyr-like figure. Lions and pelicans surround the main figures, suggesting an allegory which is now lost to us. The print was produced in the Netherlands, an area with strong artistic traditions and a thriving print market, driven by the growth of cities and a wealthy merchant class. Prints were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or institutions. By studying the emblems that appear in the print, we can reconstruct the worldview of the 16th century. As an art historian, I would research emblem books and other visual sources from the period to better understand the meaning of this intriguing print.