Agrippina, Wife of Tiberius 16th-17th century

Curator: Up next, we have Aegidius Sadeler II’s engraving of "Agrippina, Wife of Tiberius." Editor: She looks regal, almost imposing. The draping fabric gives a real sense of weight. Curator: Absolutely. The process of engraving, all those precise lines, highlight the opulence. Considering Sadeler's patrons, we see the image functioning as a symbol of status and power, showcasing luxury goods and perhaps even subtly reinforcing societal hierarchies. Editor: I'm drawn to the political implications. Agrippina, as a powerful Roman woman, negotiates patriarchal structures. How does Sadeler frame her agency, her role in the narrative of Roman leadership? The text at the bottom offers both praise and subtle critique. Curator: Well, the text is not by Sadeler himself. Editor: Still, its inclusion is telling. And by representing her in such detail, the artwork participates in a long tradition of visualizing female power, however fraught that representation might be. Curator: Precisely. It invites us to consider who benefits from the production and consumption of such images. Editor: A powerful reminder that art is never neutral.