Fotoreproductie van (vermoedelijk) een prent naar werk van W. von Kaulbach: Iphigenie (Iphigenie auf Tauris) c. 1860 - 1890

Andries Jager created this photo reproduction of what is believed to be a print after W. von Kaulbach's work, "Iphigenia in Tauris," sometime in the 19th century. This piece brings into focus the complex representation of women in 19th-century art and literature. Iphigenia, a priestess in the ancient Greek Temple, finds herself at the center of a narrative fraught with themes of duty, sacrifice, and identity. The image, derived from a play by Euripides and later reinterpreted by Goethe, presents Iphigenia as a figure of moral purity and strength, yet confined by her role as a priestess and her familial obligations. What strikes me most is the emotional tension captured in the scene, reflecting the internal conflicts of a woman torn between her duty and her desire for freedom. This representation invites us to reflect on the limited roles often assigned to women in historical narratives. It challenges us to consider the alternative narratives and possibilities for female agency and self-determination.