Ontvoering van Helena van Troje door Paris c. 1737

Louis Desplaces created this print, *The Abduction of Helen of Troy by Paris*, in the early 18th century, a period marked by rigid social hierarchies and burgeoning colonial expansion. Here, the artist interprets a pivotal moment from Greek mythology: Paris's abduction of Helen, which ignited the Trojan War. Yet, consider the complexities embedded within this portrayal. Helen, seemingly complicit, is surrounded by women, while a Black page attends to her. This inclusion reflects the era's colonial attitudes, subtly highlighting the racial power dynamics present in Europe at the time. The gazes of the figures, the dramatic composition, and the cherubic figures of love, all work together to aestheticize the troubling theme of abduction. Desplaces encourages viewers to reflect on the intertwined narratives of power, desire, and cultural representation in his art.