Arcus and Callisto 1565 - 1750

This engraving by Robert Willemsz de Baudous depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, capturing the myth of Arcas and Callisto. Note Diana, the goddess of the hunt, as she raises her bow. This simple hunting tool becomes a potent symbol of transformation, marking the tragic metamorphosis of Callisto into a bear. The bear itself is a layered symbol. It represents both Callisto's unjust punishment by a jealous Juno and the primal, untamed aspects of nature. Consider the bear's presence in ancient rituals, often linked to fertility and protection. And how, across cultures, the constellation Ursa Major is also a great bear, an emblem of cosmic order. This image carries a weight of collective memory, evoking feelings of fate and transformation, as the cyclical dance of symbols like the bear and the bow resurface through history, constantly renewed with new meanings.