The characteristic image of Nefertiti is known all over the world. Discovered in 1912 and first exhibited in 1924, her bust has turned into an icon of universal beauty that is globally recognized. How did this transformation happen, from ancient queen to modern icon? How can we explain her worldwide resonance – in places like Germany and Britain, Brazil and Egypt, Bengal and the United States, places with vastly different aesthetic traditions?

This talk by Sebastian Conrad addresses the worldwide reach of her fame. This is a story of struggles over legal ownership and restitution; it is also a story about competing beauty standards in a globalizing world. But it is more: Claiming Nefertiti was about making claims on modernity. Sebastian Conrad is professor of global history at Freie Universität Berlin.