Brunhilda with Grane 1876

Hans Thoma created the artwork, Brunhilda with Grane, using an unknown medium during a time when historical and mythological subjects were gaining popularity. This piece is an intimate portrayal of Brunhilda, a figure from Germanic heroic legend, alongside her horse Grane. Thoma captures Brunhilda in a moment of quiet strength, her gaze steady and her stance firm, challenging traditional representations of women in art. The choice to depict Brunhilda, a powerful female figure, is a reflection of the period's growing interest in strong female characters. Thoma does not depict Brunhilda as a romantic or erotic figure but represents her as an independent and self-possessed individual. Her armor and shield signify her role as a warrior, defying the conventional gender roles of the time. Thoma seems to be asking us to think about how we construct identity through the stories we tell, and who gets to be the hero. How might seeing Brunhilda in this way change how we understand strength, power, and identity?