Mercurius, Argus en Io 1771 - 1808

Jacques Kuyper created this etching titled "Mercurius, Argus en Io" around the turn of the 19th century, a time when the echoes of the Enlightenment were prompting new ways of seeing the world through both reason and romanticism. Kuyper revisits the Greek myth of Io, who was turned into a cow. Mercury, sent by Jupiter, charms Argus, the ever-watchful guard, with music. But this isn't just a retelling; it's a reflection on power and vulnerability. Who gets to decide Io’s fate? Is it Jupiter, who desires her? Or Argus, tasked with her surveillance? Or even Mercury, who enacts Jupiter's will through seductive music? Through the fine lines of the etching, Kuyper invites us to consider the silent voices in these grand narratives. The focus isn’t on heroism, but on the intimate, often unseen, consequences of divine and mortal actions. It's a poignant reminder of how stories, even those etched in history, are always open to new readings, new questions, and new empathy.