Fotoreproductie van een prent van een scene uit Iphigenie auf Tauris, voorstellende Orestes en Iphigeneia c. 1875 - 1885

This is an undated photogravure reproduction of a print depicting a scene from Goethe's play, "Iphigenie auf Tauris" by an anonymous artist. Here we see Iphigenia, High Priestess of Diana, reuniting with her long-lost brother Orestes. Goethe’s play, itself rooted in ancient Greek tragedy, presents us with the complexities of familial duty and the roles imposed upon women within patriarchal structures. The composition emphasizes the emotional intensity of the reunion, while the surrounding figures seem to highlight the gaze of society upon these personal dramas. Iphigenia is often portrayed as a figure trapped between worlds; her identity shaped by exile, divine duty, and the yearning for her homeland. This particular scene highlights how characters navigate fate, familial bonds, and personal freedom. Consider how the artist uses light and shadow to heighten the emotional tenor of the reunion, and perhaps, also to suggest the shadows of the past that haunt these characters.