Macht van de vrouw before 1579

"Macht van de vrouw" (Power of the Woman) is a 16th-century print by Wierix, a renowned artist of the Dutch Renaissance. This etching, housed in the Rijksmuseum, features a strong woman, the personification of Power, with a child in her arms, standing above fallen men. The scene likely depicts the biblical story of Judith, who, armed with strength and cunning, slayed Holofernes, a powerful general. This powerful allegory is further amplified by the scattered weapons and armor at the woman’s feet, symbolizing the defeat of power by the force of will, intellect, and feminine strength.