Acis Killed by Polyphemus 1606

Curator: Antonio Tempesta’s etching, “Acis Killed by Polyphemus,” presents a dramatic scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses. It’s quite small, only about 10 by 12 centimeters. Editor: The sheer violence is striking. The cyclops Polyphemus looms, boulder in hand, while Acis seems to desperately flee the brute rage, an almost cartoonish image of destructive masculinity. Curator: Tempesta was known for his battle scenes and landscapes, so it's not surprising he chose such a dynamic moment. This print was part of a series illustrating Ovid, intended for a wider audience. Editor: The story itself raises questions about power and vulnerability. Here, we see a monstrous figure, Polyphemus, enacting violence born of jealousy and unrequited desire. Where does our sympathy lie? Curator: Perhaps Tempesta's intention was simply to depict the sensational story, to entertain. But you're right, we can't ignore the underlying power dynamics. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a stark reminder that even classical tales reflect troubling aspects of human behavior and the dangers of unchecked power. Curator: It provides a vivid snapshot of a pivotal scene that we can reconsider through a contemporary lens. Editor: Precisely, prompting us to confront uncomfortable truths about both the past and the present.