Venetiaanse dame, rijk gekleed voor het 'Festa della Sensa' 1598

This engraving by Christoph Krieger depicts a Venetian woman richly dressed for the 'Festa della Sensa'. The image gives us a peek into the elaborate social rituals of Venice, likely in the 16th or 17th century. The Festa della Sensa, or Ascension Day festival, was a key event celebrating Venice's maritime power and its symbolic marriage to the sea. This image creates meaning through the visual codes of wealth and status, seen in the woman's elaborate gown, lace, and jewelry, reflecting Venice's position as a major trading power. It also touches on the politics of imagery, showing how public festivals reinforced Venice's self-image. For historians, understanding this artwork involves delving into archival material about the festival and Venice's social structure. Such images remind us that art is always intertwined with the social and institutional context in which it was created.