Hercules en Hesione 1713 - 1719

Bernard Picart created this print, Hercules and Hesione, sometime between 1673 and 1733. The composition divides into three distinct zones, framed by an ornamental border. The eye is drawn to the dynamic interplay of figures battling against a tumultuous sea. The tonal variations achieved through fine engraving, produce a dramatic scene. Picart’s image visualizes a myth where Hercules rescues Hesione from a sea monster. Formally, the design uses the concept of the ‘picture plane’ to create a tension. Hercules, in the center, stands ready to strike, positioned between the rower and the damsel. It’s a stage where the figures occupy distinct spatial planes, which flattens the image, emphasizing its constructed nature. Picart’s work uses both classical and baroque styles to invite us to examine our interpretation of visual storytelling. He transforms mythological narrative into a semiotic structure that we decode through formal elements and cultural memory. The print's strength lies not just in its aesthetic appeal but in how it uses form to provoke thought and question our understanding of the image.