Design for a Medallion: Huntress Kneeling before an Armed Goddess 1625 - 1655

Eustache Le Sueur created this graphite drawing titled, *Design for a Medallion: Huntress Kneeling before an Armed Goddess*, during the 17th century in France, a time when the French monarchy sought to revive national pride through art. Here, we see two female figures rendered in graphite, enclosed within a circle, their gestures evocative of both reverence and authority. The kneeling huntress directs her gaze upward, her posture suggesting supplication or perhaps a plea for guidance. Before her stands an armed goddess, her helmet and spear signaling power and protection. This drawing subtly challenges the conventional gender roles of the time. Le Sueur explores female strength and agency, yet within the safe confines of mythology, allowing for an exploration of female power that was only just beginning. The huntress's vulnerability, contrasted with the goddess's strength, creates a visual dialogue about power dynamics and female identity. What narratives do you think this drawing suggests about the negotiation of power, particularly for women in a society defined by male dominance?