Cleopatra Bitten By an Asp 1535 - 1555

Jean Mignon created this print, "Cleopatra Bitten By an Asp", during the Renaissance, a time when classical themes were often revisited and reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. Here, Cleopatra, the Egyptian queen, takes her own life rather than submit to Roman rule. But Mignon wasn't just illustrating a historical event, he was participating in a discourse about power, gender, and identity. As a woman in a position of authority, Cleopatra challenged the patriarchal norms of both her time and the Renaissance. The artist portrays Cleopatra as a powerful figure who chooses her own destiny, even in death. Her suicide becomes an act of defiance, a way of asserting her agency in a world dominated by men. Consider the emotional complexity of this scene: Cleopatra's defiance, her attendants' grief, and Mignon’s own perspective on female power. The print is a testament to the enduring fascination with Cleopatra as a symbol of female strength and resistance.