Mucius Scaevola c. 1586 - 1620

This small, anonymous print depicts Mucius Scaevola, a figure from Roman history known for his bravery and patriotism. Prints like this circulated widely, shaping cultural values and historical narratives through easily reproducible images. Here, Scaevola stands defiantly, sword in hand, against a backdrop that situates his heroism within a specific cultural and political context. The choice to represent Scaevola at all speaks to the values that the culture wanted to promote, the values it wanted its citizens to embody. What does it mean to see this man, who sacrificed his own body, as a hero? What are the gendered implications of this stoic and unwavering figure? Consider the emotional impact of this image: the tension between Scaevola’s stoicism and the visceral act of self-sacrifice. How does this portrayal both glorify and perhaps subtly question the cost of such extreme devotion to the state? This print invites us to reflect on the narratives we construct around heroism and the complex interplay between individual sacrifice and collective identity.