Willemynken vecht met stier en Duyfken berispt haar 1590 - 1638

This engraving by Boëtius Adamsz. Bolswert depicts a scene with a woman struggling with a bull, while another figure scolds her. The dominant motif here is the bull, a symbol of untamed power and primal energy. In ancient Minoan culture, the bull was central to ritual, embodying virility and strength. We see echoes of this in the myth of Europa and the bull, a tale of transformation and destiny. The woman's struggle reminds us of the eternal battle between humanity and nature. This motif of confrontation with animalistic forces resurfaces throughout art history—consider the epic of Gilgamesh wrestling with bulls, or Hercules's labors. In each instance, there is an attempt to harness the raw, instinctual power, yet it often leads to unexpected, chaotic results. The image speaks to our collective, subconscious engagement with power, control, and the unpredictable nature of the primal energies within us. Thus, we see the cyclical return of powerful symbols, each reappearance enriching its meaning, as it evolves through the collective psyche of generations.