“Dulle Griet” on a Raid before the Entrance to Hell

At the time of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Dulle Griet” – or mad Margaret – was the term used to describe the proverbial evil, cantankerous wife who oppresses her husband, is afraid of no one, and will even take on the devil himself. In this painting she is shown swinging her broom at all kinds of demons in front of the mouth of Hell, denoted by the fire on the left. However, she does not have magical powers, she is not a witch. But she was accused of avarice, symbolised here by various gold objects protruding from her apron.