Sidonia von Bork 1860

Edward Burne-Jones painted ‘Sidonia von Bork’ without a specific date and medium; a representation of a figure from German folklore at the height of the Pre-Raphaelite movement in Victorian England. Burne-Jones, who was a leading figure in the aesthetic movement, often drew inspiration from literature and mythology. In this piece the artist presents us with the infamous Pomeranian noblewoman Sidonia von Bork, known for her alleged involvement in several mysterious deaths and accused of witchcraft. The painting reflects a fascination with femme fatales, a concept that was common at the time. Sidonia is depicted with a complex persona. On the one hand she embodies beauty and aristocratic grace, yet we can also feel a sense of danger lurking beneath the surface. The work engages with Victorian society's complex attitudes towards female power and sexuality. Burne-Jones doesn’t flatten this woman into a good or bad binary, but acknowledges her agency within a patriarchal structure. The painting prompts us to consider how women are demonized when they don't conform to social expectations.