Perseus en Andromeda c. 1636 - 1670

Magdalena van de Passe created this engraving of ‘Perseus and Andromeda’ around the 1630s. Van de Passe came from a family of prominent printmakers in the Netherlands, which had a thriving industry in the production and distribution of prints. This image is a representation of the Greek myth of Perseus rescuing Andromeda from a sea monster, but it also speaks to the gender politics of the time, as it depicts a helpless female saved by a heroic male figure. The image also reinforces the idea of male dominance and female submission, which was prevalent in the patriarchal society of the 17th century. The printmaking industry provided opportunities for women artists like van de Passe to participate in the art world, yet their access to formal training and recognition was limited. The study of institutional records, such as guild membership and patronage networks, can reveal much about the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of art in the Dutch Golden Age.