De kwelling van Tantalus 1733

"De kwelling van Tantalus" (The Torment of Tantalus), an etching by Bernard Picart, depicts the Greek mythological figure Tantalus condemned to eternal hunger and thirst. The image shows Tantalus standing in water, unable to drink as it recedes from his lips, with fruit hanging above his head just out of reach. Created in 1733, this work is a striking example of Dutch Baroque art, with its detailed depiction of Tantalus's torment and the dramatic use of light and shadow. It highlights the moral consequences of hubris and the power of divine retribution. The etching is part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.