Cleopatra bitten by an Asp 1540 - 1556

"Cleopatra bitten by an Asp" is an engraving made by Léon Davent, a French printmaker who was active in the mid-16th century. During this period, images of powerful women were often circulated as moralizing tales, or as warnings against female ambition. Here, Davent depicts Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, in her final moments. She has chosen suicide over the humiliation of being taken prisoner by the Romans. The asp, a symbol of royal power in ancient Egypt, is the instrument of her death. As we can see, Cleopatra, however, is not portrayed as a ruler but as a nude, sexualized woman. In this way, her power is undermined through an emphasis on her body. Consider the vulnerability in her eyes, the intimacy of this private act made public through Davent's print. What does it mean to reclaim agency in the face of defeat? The print invites us to reflect on the intersections of power, gender, and mortality, as we contemplate Cleopatra's final act of defiance.