Perseus en Andromeda c. 1701

Jacob Toorenvliet created this drawing of Perseus and Andromeda with pen in brown ink. It invites us into a world steeped in classical mythology, yet its themes resonate powerfully across time. The story of Andromeda, a princess chained to a rock as a sacrifice, is ripe for analysis when viewed through the lens of gender and power dynamics. Andromeda represents the voiceless victim of patriarchal demands, while Perseus, arrives as the heroic figure, ready to rescue her from her impending doom. Toorenvliet doesn’t offer alternative narratives, yet the emotional tension is palpable: Andromeda’s vulnerability, and Perseus’s dynamic intervention, it captures a moment of intense drama. What does it mean to be saved, and who gets to be the savior? These are questions that continue to challenge us today.