From 1936 to Today: The Story Behind the Photo
I came across Adolph Edward Weidhaas’s 1936 snapshot of a tabby cat dressed as the Valkyrie Brünnhilde—helmet, breastplate, the whole operatic get‑up—while poking around the Library of Congress’s online archives. The image has been making people smile for decades, and once I saw it, I knew I had to paint her!
If you’re curious about the Valkyrie herself, here’s a quick refresher: Brünnhilde (or Brynhildr) shows up first in the Old Norse sagas as a shield‑maiden who defies Odin, ends up asleep in a ring of fire, and is eventually awakened by the hero Sigurd.
In the 19th century, Richard Wagner borrowed the legend for his opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. His Brünnhilde steals the stage in Die Walküre and later rides into literal flames to break a cursed ring, Gollum and Frodo style.
My take on Brünnhilde!
Why I Had to Paint Her
The very first thing that hit me wasn’t the helmet or the mythology—it was how undeniably cute she looked. There’s a sparkle in her eyes and a tiny, almost smug tilt to her whiskers that just pulls you in. I felt an immediate urge to capture that charm before anything else slipped through the cracks of time.
So I fired up Procreate, blocked in her silhouette, and spent hours coaxing out that softness in her fur—the kind that makes you want to scratch her chin—while letting the metal accents gleam. I kept her colours warm and a little vintage so the illustration still nods to 1936, but with enough punch to hold its own in a modern space. By the last brush‑stroke, I was grinning just as much as she was.
Perfect for Cat Lovers, Opera Geeks, & Everyday Dreamers
Brünnhilde’s lighthearted swagger makes me smile, and I’m betting she’ll do the same for anyone who crosses her path—whether you know Wagner’s leitmotifs or not! She’s the kind of painting that makes guests pause and ask, “Wait… is that cat wearing armour?”
Thinking of Welcoming Brünnhilde Home?
If her Valkyrie vibes feel like they belong in your day‑to‑day, here are two easy, no‑pressure ways to bring her in:
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Fine‑art print — ready for a frame and a prime spot on the wall.
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Greeting card — a fold‑up version that’s perfect for surprising a fellow cat‑loving friend (or yourself).
Whichever you choose, Brünnhilde will keep that confident glint—and maybe remind you to be brave when you need it.