The many faces of Katharina
Discover the exhibition The Many Faces of Katharina from 24 October onwards. Five hundred years after her historic marriage to Martin Luther, the exhibition delves into the multifaceted story of Katharina von Bora (1499-1552): the woman who for centuries was mainly referred to as “the wife of”, but who was so much more than that.
What is The Many Faces of Katharina about?
The exhibition The Many Faces of Katharina explores how our image of women has evolved over time. Every era looks to the past for examples and role models. Sometimes, little is known about a historical figure, allowing different groups to project their own ideas and values onto that person. This is also true of Katharina von Bora (1499–1552), the wife of Martin Luther. We know little about her real life, yet over the centuries she has repeatedly been used as a symbol — as a model housewife, an entrepreneur, a scapegoat, or even a feminist icon.
What will I see in The Many Faces of Katharina?
In the exhibition, you'll discover how Katharina’s image has changed over the centuries — including in the Netherlands. You'll see paintings, books, and documents, as well as modern media such as film and television, and a specially commissioned art piece. In this way, the exhibition connects history to the questions we ask today.
Commissioned by the Luther Museum, photographer Oxiea Villamonte (born 1995) translates the theme of the Katharina von Bora exhibition into a contemporary form. In the museum’s regents’ rooms, she presents a series of nine photographs exploring the role and position of women today. The works reflect on self-image and the many roles women in 2025 strive to embody and project.
Why is The Many Faces of Katharina relevant to us?
Katharina’s story remains surprisingly relevant. As a nun who escaped her convent and later became an enterprising woman, she broke the conventions of her time. This makes her fascinating to us, because her story sheds light on how women are perceived — both then and now.
Save the Date!
The Many Faces of Katharina is an exhibition about 500 years of reinterpretation —
an exhibition about power, projection, and the woman who challenged history.
Where: Luther Museum, Nieuwe Keizersgracht 570, Amsterdam
When: October 24, 2025 – January 25, 2026
What is meant by the title The Many Faces of Katharina?
The exhibition’s title refers to the many faces that have been placed upon Katharina von Bora. She has constantly been reimagined by others and, as a result, has no fixed identity of her own.
This shifting image says more about history — and the times that reinterpreted her — than about Katharina herself.
Why isn’t Katharina’s full name used in the title?
Katharina von Bora’s full name is still relatively unknown. Moreover, there have been many other Katharinas throughout history. We often do not know who these women truly were — only what history has told us about them.
