Het oordeel van Paris 1580 - 1634

Pieter de Jode I created this engraving, "The Judgement of Paris," depicting a pivotal scene from Greek mythology. Paris, a Trojan prince, must decide which goddess is the fairest: Hera, Athena, or Aphrodite. He extends the golden apple to Aphrodite, a symbol of victory and beauty, but also of the strife it will sow. The apple, laden with symbolic weight, is not new to us. Consider Eve offering the apple to Adam; the motif embodies temptation and fateful choice. These depictions are rooted in our collective memory, recurring across centuries. Here, Paris's decision will trigger the Trojan War, linking individual choice to immense and enduring conflict, as it represents a timeless narrative of desire and consequence. The motif evolves, resurfacing in various guises through history, and we continually re-interpret its meaning, ensuring its immortality.