The Story of Niobe 1560 - 1607

This engraving by Jan Saenredam, dating back to the late 16th century, depicts the tragic story of Niobe, whose hubris led to the slaughter of her children by Apollo and Diana. Arrows fly and bodies contort in expressions of terror, revealing the moment of divine retribution. Consider the recurring motif of the arrow. Its symbolic journey began as a tool of survival, evolved into a symbol of power and divine wrath, and here pierces the children of Niobe. This weapon of the gods resonates across cultures, echoing the Cupid’s arrow of love, and even finding its way into modern heraldry, representing direction and force. The suffering of Niobe, frozen in perpetual grief, reminds us of the emotional potency of such images. It engages our collective memory of human suffering, embodying the enduring psychological impact of loss. This engraving captures a fleeting moment of horror, yet its symbolic weight reverberates through time, evoking primal fears and compelling us to confront the darker aspects of the human experience.