Kenau tijdens het beleg van Haarlem, 1573 1809 - 1822

This print by A. Lutz depicts "Kenau during the siege of Haarlem, 1573," using line and composition to evoke a moment of female courage amid conflict. The print is structured around a stark contrast between the active foreground and a detailed background scene of war. In the foreground, a group of women, led by Kenau, emerges with spears and flags, their figures tightly packed. Lutz uses sharp, distinct lines to define their forms, emphasizing their determination and unity. The women's determined stance contrasts with the chaotic scene behind them, where soldiers clash amid burning buildings. The city is constructed through smaller, more frantic lines, conveying a sense of tumult. The composition’s formal organization serves a narrative purpose: positioning the women as a bulwark against the siege. It’s a powerful statement about the destabilization of gender roles in times of crisis, challenging fixed meanings and historical accounts through its visual emphasis on female agency. The print functions not just as a historical record, but as a site of ongoing interpretation where themes of courage, resistance, and gender intersect.