Locrian Ajax (Ajax Locrien), from: Les Images ou Tableaux de platte peinture des deux Philostrates Sophistes grecs (...) 1614 - 1615

"Locrian Ajax (Ajax Locrien)" is an etching by Flemish artist Thomas de Leu, created between 1614 and 1615. This detailed print depicts the Greek hero Ajax being struck by a thunderbolt, a punishment for his hubris, a scene inspired by the *Images ou Tableaux* of Philostratus the Younger. The dramatic composition, featuring a powerful diagonal, draws the viewer's eye to Ajax's suffering, while the soaring figure of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, in the upper right corner underscores the divine justice at play. The work's masterful use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth and volume, highlighting the contrasting textures of the clouds, rocks, and the hero's body. The etching is currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.