Portret van Gerberga van Neder-Lotharingen by Pieter de (II) Jode

Portret van Gerberga van Neder-Lotharingen

after 1661

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Artwork details

Medium
print, engraving
Dimensions
height 172 mm, width 120 mm
Location
Rijksmuseum
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#portrait#medieval#print#history-painting#academic-art#engraving

About this artwork

Pieter de Jode II created this engraving, "Portret van Gerberga van Neder-Lotharingen", giving us a glimpse into the representation of women in the 17th century. Gerberga, daughter of Lower Lorraine, is portrayed with the symbols of her status: elaborate headdress, jewelry, and fur-lined robes. Yet, this image also speaks volumes about the constraints placed upon women of her era. The inscription makes note that she outlived her husband: Gerberga's identity and worth are framed by her relationship to men and her place within the patriarchal structure of the nobility. What does it mean to exist within a portrait, forever defined by lineage and marital status, one's individual story secondary to their role in a dynasty? The emotional weight of this question lingers as we consider Gerberga's gaze, which seems to hold both strength and a hint of resignation. The artwork offers not just a portrait of a woman, but also reflects the broader societal issues of gender and power.

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