Oedipus solves the mystery of the Sphinx 1891

Franz von Stuck created this painting of Oedipus confronting the Sphinx during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a time when artists grappled with the rise of modernity and the anxieties that came with it. Here, Oedipus is depicted as a figure of masculine intellect, standing in stark contrast to the sensual, reclining Sphinx. Look at the skull, a memento mori, reminding us of the stakes: life and death hinge on Oedipus's ability to solve the riddle. Yet, the Sphinx, with her female features and lioness body, represents a powerful, enigmatic form of knowledge that Oedipus must overcome. Von Stuck doesn't merely illustrate a mythological scene. He invites us to consider the power dynamics at play. Are we meant to celebrate Oedipus's triumph, or question the cost of his victory? How might the narrative change if told from the Sphinx's perspective, a guardian of ancient wisdom silenced by patriarchal progress? This painting compels us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, knowledge, and the stories we choose to tell.