Nemesis, tildækkende sine øjne af sorg 1743 - 1809

Nicolai Abildgaard created this ink drawing of Nemesis at an unknown date. Here we see Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution, covering her eyes in sorrow. Abildgaard lived during a time of revolution and societal upheaval; one can only speculate at the personal hardships he must have experienced. The artist’s Nemesis embodies a complex blend of power and vulnerability. Traditionally, she's a figure who delivers divine punishment, yet here she is overwhelmed with what seems like empathy. She sits on a wheel, a symbol of her inescapable role, while hiding her face. The flower at the bottom of the drawing, seems a symbol of lost innocence and beauty. This is particularly potent. The surrounding imagery suggests an interpretation where Nemesis is not just an agent of revenge, but a figure who is mourning. Abildgaard challenges the viewer to consider the emotional and personal dimensions of justice and retribution.