Portret van Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaar 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print of ‘Portret van Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaar’ in the eighteenth century using etching. We see a full-length figure of a woman, rendered in detailed lines that define her form and attire. The stark contrast between light and shadow gives a sense of depth. The composition is dominated by the figure’s strong, upright posture, challenging conventional gender roles. The spear she holds and the helmet at her feet frame the figure in a semiotic dance of power and submission. The lines create texture, from the fabric of her clothes to the metal of her weaponry. This portrait uses formal elements to construct a powerful representation, prompting us to consider the historical and cultural contexts that inform our reading of gender, power, and representation. The work acts as a site of ongoing dialogue about history, identity, and the ways in which art shapes our understanding.