Illustration to Odyssey 1793

Editor: This is John Flaxman's "Illustration to Odyssey" created in 1793 using pen and ink. It has such a stark and ethereal quality, doesn't it? What do you see in this piece beyond its literal depiction of a scene from the Odyssey? Curator: I see a powerful commentary on the societal expectations imposed upon women, even in mythological contexts. These figures, locked in an embrace, seem trapped by fate, observed by these rather sinister looking winged figures. Editor: Sinister? I hadn’t thought of them that way. Why sinister? Curator: Look at them. They seem to be watching and almost guarding these women. Do they remind you of anything, these figures who are part human, part animal? This illustration, through the figures of the embracing women, critiques a lack of agency. Editor: So, you’re saying it's less about celebrating Homer's epic and more about a feminist reading of its implications for women’s roles? Curator: Precisely. The minimalist style and sharp lines heighten the sense of confinement, the restrictive lines are perhaps an analogy for how society itself restricts women. Do you agree? Editor: That makes me reconsider the composition. I was initially struck by the simple beauty, but I see how the encirclement and the observer figures create a different mood entirely. I did wonder about those odd looking characters floating around! Curator: It prompts us to consider the work as a site of resistance and questioning. These are important elements to unpack when looking at neoclassical artworks that seemingly just draw from mythology or antiquity. What seemed harmless on the surface reveals layers of social critique once you understand its place and position in its time. Editor: I'll definitely look at Flaxman differently now! Thanks for making me see it in such a complex, fascinating light!