Lucretia bedreigt door Sextus met dolk 1743 - 1747

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo rendered this etching, portraying Lucretia threatened by Sextus with a dagger. The dagger, a phallic symbol, pierces the scene with its cold intent. It recalls the swords of antiquity, yet here, it's wielded not in open battle, but in the shadowed space of violation. Consider Judith with the head of Holofernes: the sword, an instrument of liberation. But here, it is inverted. It is not liberation but domination that it represents. This symbol resonates through time, echoing in the violent acts depicted across epochs. The contrast between Lucretia's pallor and Sextus’ dark figure underscores the psychological weight of the scene. It reminds us of the human capacity for darkness, lurking beneath the veneer of civility. Thus, the dagger remains. It is a chilling reminder of the cyclical nature of history, where symbols of power can be twisted, and acts of violence are repeated.