Sculptuur, zoon van Laokoön 1538

This is an engraving of a sculpture, *Son of Laocoön*, made anonymously in 1538. The image depicts a nude male figure entwined by a serpent. The original Laocoön sculpture, unearthed in Rome in 1506, ignited widespread artistic interest in classical antiquity during the Renaissance. This print reflects the era's fascination with rediscovering and reinterpreting classical forms and narratives. The image carries echoes of classical ideals of beauty, while also speaking to themes of suffering and the human condition, as represented in the original myth of Laocoön, who was punished by the gods. The gaze of the figure is directed upwards, an expression of anguish. The serpent's grip around the figure can be read as a symbol of internal struggles. This representation invites viewers to contemplate universal themes of vulnerability.