Keizerin Kunigunda in een nis 1512 - 1558

Heinrich Aldegrever created this print of Keizerin Kunigunda in a niche sometime between 1502 and 1561. Kunigunda of Luxembourg was Holy Roman Empress by marriage to Saint Henry II. Aldegrever’s choice to depict Kunigunda is interesting. Kunigunda was known for her piety and charity, virtues that aligned with the religious values of the time. However, she was also accused of infidelity, and underwent a trial by fire to prove her innocence. This complexity – a woman in power, accused of sexual transgression, and then venerated – offers a glimpse into the multifaceted expectations placed on women, especially those in positions of power. Aldegrever doesn't offer us a simple, uncomplicated image of female power. Instead he delivers an image of layered expectations and lived experience. A women who lived a life of deep faith, yet remained subject to accusations regarding her sexual conduct. Kunigunda's story speaks to the precarious nature of female authority in the 16th Century.