Ulysses on the Island of the Goddess Calypso 1634

Willem Basse created this etching called "Ulysses on the Island of the Goddess Calypso" during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands. The artwork depicts a scene from Homer's Odyssey, where Ulysses is held captive by the nymph Calypso on her island. Here he is building a boat so he can return home. Two figures that could be Calypso and a maid stand in the background, passively observing Ulysses. The story of Ulysses is one of a man trying to return home. But what does it mean to return home? How does one rebuild their life, their relationships, their sense of self after being away? Calypso, a powerful goddess, is ultimately unable to provide what Ulysses truly desires: a sense of belonging and identity rooted in his homeland and family. Basse’s etching resonates with anyone who has longed for home, for a place of belonging, reminding us of the universal human desire for connection and identity.