Noah leaving the ark with his family and animals: at left Noah's family carries supplies, at right animals descend on a ramp from the ark, above birds fly from the ark, from "Liber Genesis" 1612

Crispijn de Passe the Elder created this engraving, "Noah leaving the ark with his family and animals," as part of his "Liber Genesis". During the late 16th and early 17th centuries, biblical stories were frequently reimagined through the lens of contemporary social values and artistic conventions. Here, we see the well-known scene of Noah's family and a diverse array of animals disembarking from the ark, signaling the end of the great flood. Yet, looking closer, we might ask ourselves: who are the people carrying the supplies? The women are central to the reproduction of the species, yet burdened to do the labor of re-establishing society. This image invites us to consider the labor and contributions—often overlooked—of women in the narratives of renewal and survival. The birds flying freely and animals descending represent a world restored, but also the start of a new social order. As you reflect on this print, consider the stories we tell and who is included, and who is left out. What do these narratives tell us about the societies that create and perpetuate them?