Zelfmoord van een koningin 1715

This print, made by Bernard Picart, depicts a queen's suicide within an elaborate frame. The queen pierces her throat with a dagger, a stark symbol of defiance and despair. This act echoes through history, resonating with the suicides of heroines like Lucretia and Cleopatra, who chose death over dishonor. Notice how the dagger, a phallic symbol, can be seen as a final act of asserting control in a patriarchal society. This motif transcends cultures, appearing in ancient Roman tragedies and Renaissance paintings alike. The image engages us on a subconscious level, tapping into our collective memory of tragic heroines. It is a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of history, where symbols of power, despair, and resistance are continually reshaped and reinterpreted. The queen's self-inflicted death is not merely an end but a powerful statement resonating across time.