Cloelia leder flugten på floden 1574

Tobias Stimmer made this print of Cloelia leading the escape across the river sometime in the late 16th century. Stimmer lived in a world undergoing immense change. The Protestant reformation challenged traditional Catholic authority and new humanist philosophies changed how people saw themselves and their place in the world. The story of Cloelia comes from Roman history, telling of a woman who was given as a hostage to an enemy king. Cloelia bravely escaped, leading a group of virgins across the Tiber river to safety. At the time this print was made, stories of strong women were often used to convey cultural values. Here, Cloelia's courage and leadership would have been seen as an example of female virtue, fitting within the social expectations of the time. The image may invite us to reflect on the expectations placed on women, both then and now, and the ways women navigate those expectations. It serves as a reminder of the courage and resilience that can be found in the face of adversity.