Medea doodt haar broer Absyrtus en gooit zijn lichaamsdelen in zee 1563

René Boyvin’s engraving depicts the mythical Medea murdering her brother, Absyrtus, and throwing his dismembered body into the sea. Boyvin, a French printmaker, lived during the Renaissance, a period marked by a renewed interest in classical literature and art. Medea’s story, originating in ancient Greek tragedy, embodies themes of betrayal, revenge, and the monstrous feminine. The image shows Medea, often portrayed as a woman of immense power and cunning, resorting to fratricide to aid her lover, Jason, and their escape aboard the Argo. The act of dismemberment and scattering Absyrtus' body parts is a brutal strategy to delay her pursuing father, reflecting her desperate commitment to Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. Medea's actions challenge traditional representations of women, presenting her as a figure who defies conventional gender roles through violence and cunning. The emotional tension in the image hints at the personal sacrifices and moral ambiguities inherent in Medea’s decisions.