Brünnhilde the Valkyrie Cat — Adolph Edward Weidhaas, 1936

Photographed by Adolph Edward Weidhaas in 1936, Brünnhilde is a wonderfully unusual studio portrait of a cat dressed as the legendary Valkyrie. Shown in profile against a simple background, the cat wears an elaborate winged helmet and breastplate armor inspired by Brünnhilde from Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen.

The restrained monochrome setting places extraordinary emphasis on the cat's profile, fur, whiskers, reflective armor, and theatrical headpiece. Combining the formality of traditional portrait photography with an unmistakably playful subject, the image is a memorable example of 1930s photographic humor and one of the Library of Congress's distinctive animal portraits.

Artwork Details

• Artist: Adolph Edward Weidhaas
• Title: Brünnhilde
• Original title: Brünnhilde
• Series: Costumed cat photograph series
• Date: 1936
• Period: 1930s
• Place of Origin: United States
• Medium: Photographic print, sheet 12 × 9 cm

Framed Print Details

• Fine art printing: Professional 12-color fine art printing technology produces vivid, accurate colors with strong tonal depth and significantly greater nuance than standard 4-color inkjet printing.
• Paper: Smooth premium matte paper with a clean, glare-free finish.
• Paper weight: 200 gsm (80 lb).
• Paper thickness: 0.26 mm (10.3 mils).
• Frame material: Durable pine wood.
• Frame dimensions: Approximately 20 mm (0.79 in) deep and 10–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide.
• Protection: Shatterproof plexiglass protects the print while keeping the framed artwork lightweight.
• Ready to hang: A hanging kit is included, allowing the framed print to be mounted directly on the wall.
• Available sizes: Offered in a range of sizes to suit different spaces.
• Materials: Printed using FSC-certified paper and wood where available.
• Production: Each framed print is produced to order through a trusted international network of professional print studios.
• Shipping: Worldwide shipping is available.
• Made to order: There is no minimum order quantity. Each piece is printed and assembled on demand, reducing unnecessary stock and waste.

Exact frame dimensions, component availability, and production specifications may vary slightly depending on the selected size and destination.