Jaël 1588 - 1595

This print, Jaël, was made by Jan Collaert II in the late 16th or early 17th century. The composition centres on Jaël, monumental in scale, holding a hammer and chisel, her gaze averted. The use of line, through detailed hatching and cross-hatching, defines the forms and creates tonal contrast. The print invites us to reflect on representations of power, gender, and violence through a semiotic lens. Jaël’s figure dominates the pictorial space, challenging conventional representations of women. The tools, hammer and chisel, are not merely instruments of violence, but symbols of her agency. In the background we see the act she has committed. Collaert’s formal approach and intricate detailing function as cultural and philosophical discourses, raising questions about interpretation and representation. This print asks us to consider the complex interplay between form, content, and historical context in our understanding.