Artwork
The Power of Women: The Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket
The Power of Women: The Poet Virgil Suspended in a Basket is a print by the Renaissance artist Lucas van Leyden. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This 16th-century woodcut, part of a series exploring the theme of women's power, depicts a legendary anecdote involving the poet Virgil.
- Accession no.
- 1935.116
About this work
The scene feels like a joke, but it also shows how stories about clever women were told back then.
A man dangles in a basket halfway up a tower while a woman smirks from the window. Below, a crowd points and laughs.
This is Virgil, the famous Roman poet, tricked by an emperor’s daughter. She promised to lift him to her room, then left him stuck. It’s part of a series about women outsmarting men, common in the 1500s.
The scene feels like a joke, but it also shows how stories about clever women were told back then.
To see more of these playful, sharp scenes, look up subject: netherlands, 16th century.
Overview
This 16th-century woodcut, part of a series exploring the theme of women's power, depicts a legendary anecdote involving the poet Virgil. The print showcases a clever woman outwitting a man, a popular narrative in early 16th-century Europe.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates a legend where Virgil, smitten with an emperor's daughter, is punished for his audacity. She abandons him suspended in a basket halfway up her tower, highlighting the woman's cunning and the poet's humiliation.
Technique & Style
Executed as a woodcut, the print features a comedic yet sharp visual narrative. Notably, the emperor's daughter is absent from the scene, replaced by a woman (possibly a stand-in or symbol of maternal wisdom) advising a youth, while a crowd below amplifies the ridicule.
History & Provenance
Attributed to Van Leyden, this work is one of several in a series focused on the intellectual and strategic superiority of women over men, a thematic trend prevalent in the Netherlands during the 16th century.
Context
Reflecting the cultural narratives of its time, the print balances humor with a serious commentary on gender dynamics, illustrating how stories of female cleverness were disseminated and celebrated in 16th-century Netherlands.
Legacy
As part of a broader thematic series, this woodcut contributes to the historical record of how European society in the 1500s acknowledged and depicted the intellectual and social agency of women, even in whimsical or satirical contexts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas van Leyden (1494 – 8 August 1533), was a Dutch painter and printmaker in engraving and woodcut. Lucas van Leyden was among the first Dutch exponents of genre painting and was a very accomplished engraver.
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