Thales van Milete c. 1632s

Jean Couvay made this engraving of Thales of Miletus sometime between 1600 and 1663. Couvay was working in a France deeply shaped by religious and political conflict, a context that undoubtedly influenced his art. Here, Thales, the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, is staged as a figure of defiant wisdom. There is a tension between the classical laurel wreath he wears and the tumultuous scene in the background. The expressions of defiance and the barely contained power in his stance suggests a narrative of resistance against societal pressures. The choice to depict Thales as an imposing, almost prophetic figure, speaks to the 17th-century interest in aligning classical virtue with contemporary moral and political ideals. Couvay uses the figure of Thales to explore themes of intellectual integrity and resilience during times of turmoil. The raw emotion conveyed serves as a powerful commentary on the human condition, and the timeless struggle for truth and justice.