Gunhilda accused of adultery 1760

Simon Francis Ravenet the elder made this print, Gunhilda accused of adultery, sometime before his death in 1774. It’s a fascinating image to explore the politics of imagery. Ravenet here depicts a scene of high drama. We see Gunhilda, accused and seemingly collapsed, surrounded by figures in a grand, theatrical setting. This image isn’t just a depiction of a historical event; it's a commentary on power, morality, and the role of women in 18th-century society. The theatrical staging and emotional intensity point to the influence of Baroque art, while the subject matter touches on contemporary debates about virtue, justice, and social order. As historians, we can dig deeper by examining the cultural context in which this print was made. What were the prevailing attitudes towards women, marriage, and adultery in 18th-century England and Germany? A wealth of period documents, court records, and published sermons help us understand this image better and reflect on the meaning of art as contingent on social and institutional context.