Sound, plate two from The Five Senses n.d.

Jacob van der Heyden created "Sound, plate two from The Five Senses" using engraving techniques. This print, made during a time of emerging scientific and artistic exploration, invites us to consider the role of gender in sensory experience. The central figure, a young woman playing a lute, is framed by various musical instruments. During this period, music was often associated with harmony and order, yet also with emotional expression. The choice to represent "Sound" through a female musician connects to historical gendered notions of women as conduits of emotion and beauty. Consider the power dynamics at play. The woman's engagement with music, and her embodiment of the sense of hearing, reflect the complex ways in which women were both celebrated for their artistic abilities and confined by societal expectations. The print asks us to reflect on how gender shapes our sensory perceptions and artistic expressions, and offers a glimpse into the cultural values of the time.