Perseus en Andromeda 1622 - 1691

This is Lorenzo Loli’s etching, "Perseus and Andromeda." Though we don’t have a date for it, Loli lived in a time when mythological subjects were fertile ground for exploring complex human emotions and moral questions. Here, Andromeda, a princess, is chained to a rock as punishment for her mother’s boastful pride, while Perseus flies in to rescue her. Note how Andromeda's vulnerability is central to the narrative; in these older stories, women often symbolize innocence or purity in distress, awaiting rescue by a male hero. Loli's work participates in this tradition, but it also invites us to consider the personal dimensions of Andromeda’s plight. What does it mean to be sacrificed for another's arrogance, to be publicly shamed and left exposed? The image makes us think about societal expectations placed on women, as well as the complex intersections of power, gender, and justice.