Kenau Hasselaer was a widow and owned a shipbuilding business. As the leader of a group of women she helped defend Haarlem during the Spanish siege in 1573. At the time, she was described as a ‘very masculine woman, the bravest of all who relentlessly taunted the enemies.’ And she was honoured with portraits like this one. Later, she became the epitome of a heroic woman in general.