Oedipus and the Sphinx 1808

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres's "Oedipus and the Sphinx" (1808) depicts the Greek myth of Oedipus solving the riddle posed by the Sphinx. Ingres's style, characterized by sharp lines and smooth, idealized forms, is evident in the painting. The figure of Oedipus, the protagonist, is rendered with anatomical precision. The dramatic setting, with a rocky landscape and the enigmatic Sphinx, adds to the narrative's intrigue. The painting, currently housed in the Louvre, is a quintessential example of Neoclassicism, a movement that prioritized classical ideals of beauty and rationality in art.