Allegorische voorstelling met vrouwen op globe 1705

Jacob de Later created this allegorical print with etching around 1705. The work is rich in symbolism reflecting the social and cultural values of its time. The central figures are two women standing on a globe, representing knowledge and virtue. But who defines these virtues and whose knowledge counts? The globe itself is a testament to the age of exploration, but also colonialism, mapping both the known and the appropriated world. The cherubic figures, seemingly innocent, participate in this act of defining and mapping, suggesting an inherited ideology. Consider the role of women in disseminating knowledge during this period. Were they active participants or merely allegorical figures representing abstract concepts? What emotional impact might this imagery have on women aspiring to intellectual pursuits? De Later's work operates in a complex space between traditional representation and the emergence of alternative narratives, asking us to consider the personal dimensions intertwined with societal expectations.