De grote Hercules 1589 - 1650

"De grote Hercules" is an anonymous 17th-century etching that depicts the Greek hero Hercules. The print shows Hercules standing in a landscape, his massive muscular form emphasized by the artist. He holds a club in one hand and wears a lion skin, traditional attributes of the hero. The surrounding landscape, populated with smaller figures, contributes to the sense of scale and power that defines Hercules's presence. The engraving's dramatic composition and detailed rendering of human anatomy showcase the high quality of the artist's craftsmanship, reflecting the popularity of Hercules's story in the Renaissance. This piece from the Rijksmuseum is an excellent example of the genre of heroic prints.