The Sense of Sight (detail) 

Jan Brueghel the Elder created this section of an allegorical series sometime in the 17th century, representing sight through a lavish collection of art and scientific instruments. Brueghel, who lived in a society deeply shaped by both the scientific revolution and traditional beliefs, seems to highlight humanity’s quest for knowledge through observation. The female figure of Sight, surrounded by paintings and tools, embodies an active intellectual engagement, yet she's depicted in classical, idealized terms that speak to prevailing notions of beauty and virtue. The gaze she casts upon the artwork becomes a gendered act. The gaze has long been gendered male, to see a women looking, thinking, and judging asks us to consider the power of female intellect. Through this abundance of artifacts, Brueghel invites us to reflect on how we perceive and understand the world around us, and the ways in which societal structures shape our vision. He shows us that the act of seeing is never neutral.