Triton ontvoert een vrouw 1628 - 1682

Jean Lepautre created this print, "Triton ontvoert een vrouw," in the 17th century, during a period when classical mythology was frequently mined for its dramatic and allegorical potential. Here, we see Triton, a sea god, abducting a woman, a scene rife with the power dynamics of gender and dominance that were often glossed over in classical tales. This piece invites us to reflect on historical representations of gender and power. The woman's posture shows her distress at the encounter. Lepautre's choice of this subject matter may reflect or challenge the social norms of his time, where female agency was often limited. What does it mean to depict such an act without explicit commentary? Does it normalize or critique the act of abduction? The answers may vary depending on the viewer. In considering this artwork, we are confronted with uncomfortable questions about the aesthetics of violence, the narratives we choose to perpetuate, and the silences within historical representation.