Dood van Cleopatra 1529

Sebald Beham created this small engraving, "Death of Cleopatra," sometime in the first half of the 16th century. The composition is dominated by the figure of Cleopatra, strikingly muscular, nude, and centrally positioned within the confined space. Her robust physique, accentuated by the dark, dense lines of the engraving, stands in stark contrast to the typical portrayal of female beauty during this period. Beham's emphasis on the exaggerated musculature destabilizes traditional views of femininity. A serpent is wrapped around her left arm and neck, a clear reference to her chosen means of suicide, and a vase, chains, and other prison items are placed to the left. This is not just a depiction of death, but a challenge to the conventional representation and the values of the time. The formal elements—the bold lines, the stark contrast, and the unconventional depiction of the figure—function as a powerful statement on power, gender, and representation.