Paris and Oenone, from Greek Heroines c. 1539

Georg Pencz created this engraving "Paris and Oenone, from Greek Heroines" sometime in the first half of the 16th century. Pencz, a German artist, was deeply influenced by the Renaissance, a cultural movement that revived interest in classical Greek and Roman art and literature. Here, we see Paris, a prince of Troy, carving the name of Oenone, a nymph, into a tree. This act symbolizes a promise of eternal love. The story, however, is fraught with gendered power dynamics. Oenone, abandoned by Paris, later gains the power to save him. Pencz’s depiction invites us to reflect on the fleeting nature of promises made under the guise of love, and the complexities of abandonment. The image embodies a tension between fidelity and desertion. It encourages a dialogue about the roles that women occupied in classical narratives, inviting us to consider their desires, and what it meant to betray a nymph. This engraving challenges us to consider the interplay of love, abandonment, and power.