Alexander und Hephaistion am Zelt der Sisygambis 

Simon Fokke created this drawing, "Alexander und Hephaistion am Zelt der Sisygambis," sometime between 1712 and 1784. It captures a moment laden with cultural and political significance. Consider the power dynamics at play: Alexander the Great, a figure of Western conquest, encounters Sisygambis, the mother of the defeated Persian King Darius. Sisygambis kneels before Hephaestion, mistaking him for Alexander, and in turn, Alexander’s response is to show respect for Sisygambis, and for Persian customs. This moment reveals much about the construction of gendered and racialized identities. Sisygambis, as a woman and a member of the conquered, is placed in a position of supplication. Fokke, working within a European artistic tradition, presents a narrative of the exotic 'Other' through the lens of classical history. The emotional core of this work lies in the negotiation of power, respect, and the cultural biases inherent in its representation. The scene invites us to reflect on the complexities of historical encounters and the ways in which art both shapes and reflects societal attitudes.