Leda 1747 - 1804

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo created this ink wash drawing entitled “Leda”, a depiction of a Greek myth, sometime in the late 18th century. Tiepolo situates us within a long history of representing the female body, particularly in relation to power, desire, and mythological narrative. The story of Leda and the Swan is one of divine violation. Zeus, disguised as a swan, seduces or rapes Leda, resulting in the birth of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. Tiepolo's representation, with its soft lines and delicate shading, seems to grapple with the tension between the violence of the encounter and its representation as a moment of sensual union. Consider how the artist presents Leda's body, caught in a moment of vulnerability and perhaps unwilling intimacy. Does the rendering of the scene challenge or perpetuate the power dynamics inherent in the myth, or does it perhaps explore the complexities of consent and agency? These questions invite us to reflect on the stories we tell and the ways we choose to represent them.