I enjoyed! I’ve been investigating esoteric feminism.
Cornelis Drebbel (b 1572) was an alchemist who invented the first cybernetic system (a self-governing oven for incubating eggs), a working perpetual motion device (powered by daily barometric pressure) and artist who depicted free thinking women teaching men science. The women are usually topless and the men are staring intently at her eyes or the work. Meanwhile, Anna Maria von Schurman (b 1607) was the first woman to attend university — but they literally made her sit in a box so she wouldn’t sexually distract the other students. (Huygens fell in love with her and wrote her suggestive poetry—suggesting she didn’t include her hands in her self portraits because they were dirty from engraving her self).
Cornelius Agrippa (b 1486) wrote 3 books on magic and a feminist tractate: “Proclamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex”, dedicated to the ruler of the Netherlands (a woman, Margaret, who ruled for 20 years and initiated “the ladies peace”). He wasn’t all talk— as a lawyer, he also successfully defended accused witches. His student Weyer, I believe, defended hundreds of them and wrote a book about why the whole idea of witches was really just a matter of mental illness.
Thank you! I've read some Weyer but he's just that little bit before my period, I didn't actually know about the Agrippa connection. Good luck with your research :)
I enjoyed! I’ve been investigating esoteric feminism.
Cornelis Drebbel (b 1572) was an alchemist who invented the first cybernetic system (a self-governing oven for incubating eggs), a working perpetual motion device (powered by daily barometric pressure) and artist who depicted free thinking women teaching men science. The women are usually topless and the men are staring intently at her eyes or the work. Meanwhile, Anna Maria von Schurman (b 1607) was the first woman to attend university — but they literally made her sit in a box so she wouldn’t sexually distract the other students. (Huygens fell in love with her and wrote her suggestive poetry—suggesting she didn’t include her hands in her self portraits because they were dirty from engraving her self).
Cornelius Agrippa (b 1486) wrote 3 books on magic and a feminist tractate: “Proclamation on the Nobility and Preeminence of the Female Sex”, dedicated to the ruler of the Netherlands (a woman, Margaret, who ruled for 20 years and initiated “the ladies peace”). He wasn’t all talk— as a lawyer, he also successfully defended accused witches. His student Weyer, I believe, defended hundreds of them and wrote a book about why the whole idea of witches was really just a matter of mental illness.
Keep writing, it’s great!
Thank you! I've read some Weyer but he's just that little bit before my period, I didn't actually know about the Agrippa connection. Good luck with your research :)
Sorry, it’s a “declamation” not a “proclamation” :)
But it’s really a hot mess, would love to know what you think of it if you can get a copy. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo3622875.html
I’ll take a look when I hand in my Masters! Cheers :)
https://open.substack.com/pub/etiennefd/p/my-left-shoulder-blade-is-possessed?r=2wvd7&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post