Diana Surprised by Actaeon 1586 - 1629

Aegidius Sadeler II created this engraving, *Diana Surprised by Actaeon*, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Here, Sadeler depicts a scene from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*, a mythological story where the hunter Actaeon stumbles upon the goddess Diana and her nymphs bathing. Sadeler was part of a vibrant artistic community deeply engaged with classical literature and mythology. The story of Diana and Actaeon resonates with themes of transgression, punishment, and the power dynamics between mortals and gods. Diana, as a powerful, independent goddess, embodies a certain kind of feminine authority, while Actaeon's intrusion can be seen as a violation of her privacy and sacred space. In response to his intrusion, Diana transforms Actaeon into a stag, and he is torn apart by his own hounds – a brutal punishment for his voyeurism. Sadeler’s engraving leaves us to consider the consequences of crossing boundaries, and to reflect on the emotional weight carried by the figures in this dramatic encounter.