Chimaera c. 1894

Henri de Groux created "Chimaera" using graphite and chalk. De Groux, living through the fin de siècle, was deeply affected by the sociopolitical upheaval and anxieties surrounding the turn of the century. Consider the chimaera, a monstrous figure of Greek myth, as a metaphor for identity. The chimaera has a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. It embodies a crisis of form, a confusion of boundaries. In this context, the chimaera can be seen as a powerful symbol for the anxieties of the late 19th century. Ideas about gender, class, and race were being questioned. Traditional structures were being challenged, leaving many in a state of uncertainty and fear. De Groux seems to capture this mood, presenting a creature that is as terrifying as it is tragic. It begs us to reflect on the monsters we create, both in our personal lives and in society at large.