I say to you, Frodo, that even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. And he gropes ever to see me and my thought.

This heated and pivotal scene between actual foes. THE RINGS OF POWER (2022)

Long story short, while writing other adjacent Galadriel meta, I randomly found this: the Darmstadt Madonna (scroll down). A 16th century painting of an aristocratic couple humbled before the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. And I saw dots begging for connection.

I think the wife, Magdalena Baer, was the inspiration for young Galadriel's dress, as it's strikingly similar (see collage below).

Combined with Tolkien's parallels between the last version of Galadriel and St. Mary.

Plus Magdalena Baer's positioning to St. Mary in the painting is too-coincidental-to-ignore.

Moreover, the RoP costume designer has similar precedence with Queen Regent Miriel.

(Top right) Magdalena Baer

Similar dress style and signifiers

Although Magdalena’s dress is more sophisticated than Galadriel's in construction, both are voluminous (likely) white linen and embellished with blackwork — historically emblematic of their high status, as fine embroidery takes time and skill.

Here’s where they differ: the sheerness of Galadriel’s dress means it’s in fact an early medieval-styled (slim-sleeved) chemise — a garment to be worn under a top layer (see images below).

Apparently appropriate for an Elf child but tad bit risqué for an adult she-Elf. And in contrast, Magdalena’s blackwork is adorning the top layer.

Demonic. That’s one of top ways I’ve seen her face is described in forums and comment sections. It is an unfortunate shot.

But when compared to the 50 shades to scowl she displays in the show, this is a look not demonic possession but of pure ecstasy.

Galadriel is a self-implied “horse girl.”Most people aren’t aware — and “horse girls” are — that women can orgasm from horseback riding. Based on that, I’ll discuss two alternative takes of her expression.

Galadriel is experiencing sadistic sexual arousal

Not far-fetched. The top traits of revenge-seeking people are 1) narcissism 2) neuroticism and 3) sadism.

Interestingly, the only other time she smiles showing teeth is when Elrond lists off her titles earned from centuries of slaughter and glory.

Note the clear pleasure she displays while describing to Adar her plans to exterminate the homeless orcish peoples before himself — totally aware he was a former Elf kidnapped, enslaved, and tortured into a new race to mock God then likely forced to breed like chattel.

She thinks of the humiliation, pain and/or suffering as she and Elendil gallop closer to her goal: bloodlust.

Galadriel is fantasying about Halbron

And this is the reason her whole demeanor perked up when Elendil mentioned horseback riding. A discretely exhibitionistic occasion to have a warm-blooded muscular creature between her thighs —its like she has not felt since Celeborn went missing.

Especially given the sexual tension between her and the Low Man. Perhaps a tension from the days before when Halbron returned her dagger, and for a split second, (head canon tells me) she thought it was something else.

Charlie Vickers as Halbrand THE RINGS OF POWER – Partings