An Athlete Stopping a Lion 1737

This is a print of a sculpture made by Anne Claude Philippe Caylus, an artist active in the 18th century. Here we see a nude athlete in an act of dominance, his knee pressing down on the back of a lion, his hands forcing its head downwards with a metal clamp. The print speaks volumes about power, and in particular, the male body. In the 1700s, ideas about masculinity were being actively shaped through art. Sculptures and prints like these played a part in defining a certain ideal: strong, capable, and in control, even when faced with the raw power of nature, as represented by the lion. Reflect on the relationship between strength and vulnerability, dominance and submission, and how these themes resonate even today. Does it reinforce traditional power dynamics, or does it offer alternative narratives about who we are?