Vrouw die een schapenvel offert, naar klassiek voorbeeld 1816

This drawing titled, 'Vrouw die een schapenvel offert, naar klassiek voorbeeld,' was made by Elisabeth Kemper in the 19th century. Kemper, born into the Dutch nobility, here reinterprets classical imagery through her own lens as a woman artist. The drawing depicts a woman, likely a priestess, in classical garb, offering a sheep's fleece at an altar. Note the delicate lines and attention to detail in the woman's draped clothing and the altar's form. The act of sacrifice, historically a sacred and often patriarchal ritual, is here centered around a female figure. Kemper's choice to depict a woman in this role challenges traditional representations, suggesting a re-imagining of power and spirituality. What does it mean for a woman in the 1800s to represent a woman performing a sacrifice in this way? The drawing becomes more than just an illustration; it is a statement about gender, agency, and the reinterpretation of historical narratives.