Jupiter voor de geboorte van Minerva uit zijn hoofd 1822

Philippus Velijn created this print, "Jupiter before the birth of Minerva from his head," sometime before 1836, using etching techniques. Velijn lived through a period of significant political and social upheaval in Europe, including the Napoleonic Wars and the rise of nationalism. The artwork depicts a pivotal moment from classical mythology, where Jupiter experiences a severe headache, which leads to the miraculous birth of Minerva from his head. What does it mean to think about this image through the lens of gender and power? Jupiter, the dominant male figure, is in distress, and his body becomes the site of creation usually associated with the feminine. Minerva’s birth represents a disruption of traditional gender roles. The story reflects a patriarchal society's complex relationship with female power, where even a goddess's birth is mediated through male authority. The print invites us to consider the tensions between classical narratives and the evolving societal norms of Velijn's time, reflecting both the endurance and the reinterpretation of ancient myths.