Le fort inexpugnable de l’honneur du sexe femenin

Le fort inexpugnable de l’honneur du sexe femenin

From the late Middle Ages until the Enlightenment, a fierce debate raged in Europe about the nature of women. At its core, this querelle des femmes concerned the capacity of women to extend beyond what was seen as their traditional domain and to participate in such fields as higher education or in the public sphere. Billon’s work, which falls squarely in this debate, was the most passionate defense of women’s equality of its era. In it, he constructs an allegorical fort in defense of women, depicting misogynists as invaders seeking to storm the castle walls. The six parts of the fort—its moat, tower, and four bastions—each represent a different female quality, and each one is populated with women of note who embody that attribute. The volume is illustrated with bold woodcuts depicting the fort, and also Athena addressing an audience made up entirely of women.

Billon, François de

Chez Ian d’Allyer

1555

Paris

1555

Qualities of women

P

11

1200s to 1500s