Death of Iphigenia c. 1758 - 1759

Benjamin West created this monochromatic drawing, "Death of Iphigenia," using pen and brown wash. West, as a leading figure in the Royal Academy, would have been very familiar with the stories of antiquity. Here, Iphigenia, a daughter of Agamemnon, is sacrificed to appease the gods. This image offers a window into the gendered politics of ancient narratives, where female bodies are used as currency in male-dominated power struggles. Iphigenia's sacrifice speaks to the devaluing of female life, and the societal expectation that women should passively accept their fate. The emotionality of the women to the right of Iphigenia is juxtaposed with the stoicism of the men, suggesting women are assigned the role of emotional expression, while men perform controlled indifference. West's image reflects both the classical traditions and the shifting gender dynamics of his time. It invites us to consider the complex ways in which gender, power, and sacrifice are intertwined in our cultural narratives.