Cleopatra 1633 - 1672

This is Willem Basse's tiny etching of Cleopatra, made sometime in the 17th century. Basse was working in an era deeply influenced by classical history and its dramatic female figures, but also one steeped in patriarchal norms. Here, Cleopatra is depicted nude, a snake wrapped around her body in the act of her infamous suicide. It’s interesting to consider how Basse, a male artist, visualizes such a powerful, intelligent, and politically astute woman in her final moments. The emotional complexity of her decision — a blend of defiance, despair, and strategic calculation — is reduced to a moment of almost eroticized vulnerability. Cleopatra, throughout art history, is often stripped of her agency, her story told as a cautionary tale rather than a celebration of her strength. The emotional impact of this image lies in the tension between Cleopatra's legendary status and the intimate, almost voyeuristic portrayal of her death. Basse's etching invites us to reflect on how we frame the narratives of women in positions of power and the tragic tropes that often define their legacies.