A sixteenth-century engraving by Gerard de Jode depicting the biblical vision of the woman and the seven-headed dragon from the Book of Revelation.

This engraving by Gerard de Jode depicts a scene from the Book of Revelation, specifically the vision of the woman clothed with the sun confronted by the great red dragon. The composition is contained within a circular frame, a common device in sixteenth-century printmaking to focus the viewer on the central narrative. The woman, crowned and winged, stands in a position of divine authority, while the seven-headed dragon occupies the lower right, its multiple heads and serpentine tail creating a sense of chaotic movement. Above, celestial figures emerge from clouds, providing a vertical axis that balances the terrestrial struggle below.

De Jode, a prominent cartographer and print publisher based in Antwerp, produced this work as part of a series illustrating biblical narratives. The technique employs fine, controlled lines to define the musculature of the dragon and the drapery of the woman. The cross-hatching provides depth and shadow, typical of the period's approach to copperplate engraving. Below the circular image, Latin text provides a summary of the passage, a standard feature in devotional prints of the era intended for scholarly or religious study. The work reflects the technical precision of the Antwerp school, where printmaking served as a primary medium for disseminating theological and mythological imagery across Europe.

This print demonstrates the stylistic conventions of the late sixteenth century, where human figures are rendered with classical proportions, yet the subject matter remains rooted in apocalyptic symbolism. The contrast between the serene posture of the woman and the aggressive, twisting form of the dragon creates a clear visual hierarchy. It is a representative example of how Northern Renaissance artists translated complex visionary texts into accessible, highly detailed visual formats for a contemporary audience.