Vlakdecoratie: Hercules wurgt in zijn wieg de twee slangen 1519 - 1591

Gerard de Jode's engraving depicts the infant Hercules wrestling two serpents, an early demonstration of his extraordinary strength, set within an ornate decorative frame. The snakes, symbols of primal chaos and earthly threat, are here confronted by the divine hero, a motif echoing the perpetual struggle between order and disorder. This scene recalls the countless images of the hero battling monstrous forms, a theme found in ancient Greek vases, Roman mosaics, and even medieval tapestries. The image of the infant Hercules presents a powerful paradox: vulnerability and nascent power intertwined. The symbol of the snake, with its complex duality, appears across cultures, from the caduceus of healing to the ouroboros of cyclical existence. Consider the psychological weight of this scene: a child facing mortal danger, a parent’s helplessness. This potent image taps into our collective anxieties, fears of the unknown, and primal instincts, engaging us on a subconscious level. De Jode's Hercules is not merely a representation of myth; it is a reminder of the enduring human drama played out across the ages.