Allegorie op de wetenschap 1557

This 1557 engraving by the Monogrammist ZBM, titled “Allegorie op de Wetenschap” depicts the allegorical figure of Science, personified as a woman. Her dress is flowing and her gaze is towards the heavens, signifying the pursuit of knowledge. The scene is filled with symbolic details, including a serpent intertwined with a book, representing the power of knowledge, and a winged figure ascending to the heavens, perhaps representing the attainment of wisdom. The use of chiaroscuro, the contrast between light and dark, adds depth and drama to the composition.