Agrippina de Oudere rouwend met de as van Germanicus 1774 - 1777

Valentine Green created this mezzotint print, Agrippina de Oudere rouwend met de as van Germanicus, in the late 18th century. During this time, there was a growing fascination with classical antiquity that influenced art. Agrippina, a powerful woman in Roman history, is depicted mourning her husband Germanicus. It’s a scene heavy with emotion and loss, rendered through the soft gradations of the mezzotint technique. The image is not just a historical depiction; it's an exploration of the intersection of power, grief, and gender in the classical world. Agrippina’s role as both a mourner and a figure of strength challenges traditional representations of women, offering an alternative narrative of female agency. The print resonates with the universal experience of mourning, inviting us to reflect on our own encounters with loss and resilience.