The abduction of Europe 

Guido Reni painted "The Abduction of Europe" sometime between 1635 and 1637. Reni was working in a time when the old stories from Greek and Roman mythology were being re-imagined. In this painting, we see the tale of Europa, a Phoenician princess, being taken away by Zeus disguised as a white bull. Europa seems almost complicit in her abduction, adorned in finery and accompanied by her handmaidens. It’s as if she's not being stolen away, but participating in a procession. Reni’s delicate style, with its soft colors, adds a layer of seduction to a story that’s inherently about power and taking. The image leaves us with a sense of unease, as it presents the idea of abduction in a palatable, even beautiful, form.