Illustration to the Iliad 1795

John Flaxman created this pen and ink illustration to the Iliad. The stark contrast and simple lines guide our eyes through a scene of divine intervention. The composition is divided into three distinct planes: a mortal supplicant, a submerged figure, and the gods in the heavens. The supplicant on the left reaches upward, her form delineated with delicate, flowing lines that convey a sense of urgent appeal. Below her, a grotesque face emerges, restrained by horizontal lines which suggest confinement. Above, gods recline on clouds and a divine figure sits enthroned. Flaxman uses line to create a hierarchy, where thin lines give way to weightier strokes to depict the higher order. Through this stylistic choice, the artist underscores the theme of power and divine intervention. The simplicity of Flaxman’s lines invite us to question the very nature of representation, to see how minimal form can convey complex narratives.