Leda en de zwaan 1835

Jean Marie Leroux created this print, titled 'Leda en de zwaan', during the 19th century. It is a work that participates in the historical trope of the female nude, but does so by situating the scene within a narrative of mythology. The tale of Leda and the Swan speaks to the eroticization of power imbalances. It's hard to ignore how the power of a god is manifested in a swan forcing himself upon Leda, while the representation of this encounter throughout art history often overlooks the violence of the act. The depiction of a serene Leda, her gaze almost lovingly fixed on the swan, presents a perspective that avoids the issue of consent and the trauma inflicted upon her. Leroux's print invites us to consider the ways in which mythological narratives can obscure historical and contemporary power dynamics, and how these dynamics are, in turn, infused with gendered and sexual overtones. The question remains: how do we reckon with these narratives that have shaped our understanding of beauty, desire, and power?