Landschap met Actaeon en Diana en haar nimfen Possibly 1774 - 1778

Richard Earlom created this etching, "Landschap met Actaeon en Diana en haar nimfen", or "Landscape with Actaeon and Diana and her nymphs", in 1774. Earlom was working in a period where there was a growing interest in classical themes, fueled by archaeological discoveries. The print depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, a text that has been taken up by many female artists. Here the hunter Actaeon stumbles upon the goddess Diana and her nymphs bathing. As punishment for his intrusion, Diana transforms Actaeon into a stag, leading to his death by his own hunting dogs. This print raises questions about voyeurism and the consequences of male gaze upon female privacy. The vulnerability of the nymphs contrasts sharply with Actaeon's impending doom, encapsulating themes of power, transgression, and transformation. It reminds us that stories often carry complex layers of gendered and moral implications, reflecting societal norms and fears.