The Naked Woman and the Dragon 1553

This engraving by Allaert Claesz., made around 1555, presents us with a curious scene: a naked woman confronts a dragon amidst classical architecture. The dragon, a symbol of chaos and primal instinct, meets its match in the figure of a woman. The image of a woman and a dragon reminds us of the classical myth of Perseus and Andromeda, where a hero saves a maiden from the monstrous beast. But here, the woman sits calmly, seemingly in control, challenging our expectations. One is reminded of the biblical Lilith or Eve. This archetype of the seductive, dangerous, and independent woman has haunted the collective psyche for centuries. Like a phoenix, this symbol of the woman and the dragon has resurfaced in different eras, each time reflecting society's anxieties about female power. Consider how the meaning of the dragon has evolved across cultures: in the West, it is a symbol of evil, whereas in the East, it stands for power, strength, and good fortune. What a rich and complex story this image tells us.