Margaretha van Oostenrijk wordt teruggegeven aan haar vader Maximiliaan 1512 - 1516

Hans Burgkmair created this woodcut, “Margaretha van Oostenrijk wordt teruggegeven aan haar vader Maximiliaan,” in the early 16th century. The print captures a poignant moment when Margaretha of Austria is returned to her father, Maximillian, Holy Roman Emperor, after being sent to France as a young child to marry Charles VIII. This work can be considered within the context of early modern Europe, where arranged marriages were a common diplomatic tool. Here, Margaretha is a pawn in the political games played out between powerful men. Burgkmair depicts her small and kneeling, her fate determined by her father, who stands tall and regal. The image raises questions about the roles assigned to women in historical narratives and dynastic politics. What emotional toll did these arrangements have on those whose futures were bartered and traded? What alternative narratives can we create by centering female experiences in historical analysis? This work is less about historical representation, and more about affective impact.