Costume Plate: Wife of a Warrior from Germany 1553 - 1575

Enea Vico created this engraving, "Costume Plate: Wife of a Warrior from Germany," around 1550, presenting a figure weighed down by domestic burdens. The composition is dominated by the woman's robust form, depicted in precise detail with dense, cross-hatched lines, emphasizing the weight and texture of her garments and belongings. Notice how the items she carries—a basket, cooking utensils, and even a rooster—are not merely accessories but structural components that define her shape and constrain her movement. Vico uses line and form to explore themes of labor, gender, and social status. The woman's stoic profile and burdened posture suggest a life of relentless work. The seemingly absurd accumulation of objects can be interpreted through semiotics, each item a signifier of her domestic role, collectively constructing an image of the 'warrior’s wife' as an emblem of sustenance and support rather than overt power. The formal arrangement of the image suggests a deeper commentary on the structures that define women's roles.