Mercurius en Argus 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this etching, Mercurius en Argus, in the 17th century, a period defined by the Baroque style and the rise of absolutist monarchies across Europe. Rooted in classical mythology, this artwork provides a lens through which we can consider themes of power, surveillance, and transformation. Here, Jupiter, to hide his affair with Io from his wife Juno, transforms Io into a heifer. The ever-suspicious Juno entrusts the hundred-eyed giant, Argus, to watch over the heifer. Jupiter then sends Mercury to slay Argus. The narrative unfolds as a power struggle, a dance of deception and force. Io, stripped of her human form, becomes a pawn in a divine game. Argus, the eternal guard, embodies relentless surveillance. Mercury, acting on Jupiter's command, becomes an agent of liberation through violence. "Junon mit tous les yeux d'Argus a la queüe de son paon." Through the story of Mercurius and Argus, Della Bella confronts us with questions about agency, control, and the cost of freedom. What does it mean to be transformed, watched, or freed by violence?