Fotoreproductie van een schilderij van Marie Antoinette 1860 - 1900

This is a photographic reproduction of a painting of Marie Antoinette, though its maker remains unknown. The fallen queen is flanked by guards, her hands held delicately, her face stoic. Observe the evolution of the ‘Mater Dolorosa’ motif. From ancient goddesses of sorrow to the mourning Virgin Mary, the image of a dignified woman enduring suffering has permeated art history. Marie Antoinette, in this depiction, is framed within this lineage. Her calm composure, though, is a mask for the terror beneath, echoing through centuries, reminding us of humanity's relentless fascination with tragic nobility. The artist, perhaps subconsciously, tapped into this primal archetype. By immortalizing Marie Antoinette, they captured not just a historical figure, but a symbol of resilience. It's a symbol that continues to resurface, each time molded by the anxieties and aspirations of the age, a dance of death and defiance played out on the stage of history.