Odysseus en de sirenen 1622 - 1725

This engraving of Odysseus and the Sirens is by an anonymous artist. It depicts a scene of temptation and control from Homer’s Odyssey. The story goes that Odysseus, on his long journey home, had to sail past the island of the Sirens, creatures whose beautiful singing lured sailors to their doom. To resist their call, Odysseus had himself tied to the mast, ordering his men to block their ears with wax. We can see Odysseus struggling against his restraints. The sirens are on the shore, seemingly helpless against Odysseus's self-discipline. Classical stories like the Odyssey were commonly used in the early modern period to impart moral lessons. Odysseus became a symbol of fortitude. The story also reveals the hierarchies of the time; Odysseus is free to listen to the siren's song whereas his working-class men are not afforded that privilege. Art history provides the social and institutional context needed to decode the meaning of artworks like this. By consulting period literature, philosophical texts, and social histories, we can understand how the image creates meaning and reinforces contemporary cultural values.