Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, Empress of Austria (Sisi / Sissi) 1863

Josef Kriehuber made this lithograph of Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, or Sisi as she was known, who later became Empress of Austria. In this portrait, we see Sisi as a young woman, her dress embodies the fashion of the time - emphasizing the wearer's waist and femininity. Yet, Sisi was far more than a royal figurehead, and she challenged these gendered expectations throughout her life. Her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph placed her in the Habsburg court, a world of rigid protocol and political intrigue. Sisi struggled with the constraints of royal life and developed her own distinct identity, setting her apart from the traditional image of an empress. It's interesting to note that Sisi became a symbol of both beauty and rebellion. She was admired for her appearance, yet she also defied the conventions of her time, traveling extensively and expressing unconventional views. Her life was marked by both privilege and personal tragedy, which ultimately shaped her into a complex, enigmatic figure.