Landschap met bomen, huis en ruïne 1842

This is a lithograph titled 'La Reine Berthe Au Grand Pied' made by Charles Rochussen, though without a precise date, the print was made for an edition of a book that was published in 1842. Rochussen lived during a time of significant social change in the Netherlands. As industrialization progressed, artists like Rochussen engaged with the changing landscapes, but, through lithography, also opened up new markets for distributing images. In this print, the image illustrates the legend of Queen Berthe, and the text is prominently displayed above a monochrome landscape scene. Berthe, who, because of a deformation, was known as ‘Berthe with the big foot’ invites reflections on beauty, power, and how physical differences can shape our understanding of historical figures. Rochussen’s work provides insight into 19th-century European attitudes toward historical narrative and representation. It remains an open question, however, whether it challenges or reinforces prevailing cultural norms around female representation and power.