Jupiter c. 1701

Jacob Toorenvliet rendered this drawing of Jupiter in an unknown year with what looks like graphite on paper. Here, Jupiter is seen with a bundle of what appear to be thunderbolts in his raised hand, riding atop an eagle. The god's body is rendered as hyper-masculine, with bulging muscles. While the eagle upon which he sits appears to be struggling to stay aloft. In many ways this drawing reinforces the classical ideal of masculinity as powerful, dominant, and assertive, which has permeated Western art for centuries. However, I'd like to ask you to consider the emotional undercurrent. The male figure is caught in a moment of tension between power and strain. The eagle, typically a symbol of freedom and might, seems burdened. This tension invites us to reflect on the costs associated with upholding traditional ideals. The artwork subtly reveals the pressures and constraints inherent in prescribed roles.