Dimensions: 292 mm (height) x 355 mm (width) (bladmaal)
This drawing, by an anonymous artist, depicts Circe changing Ulysses’ men into beasts. This image captures a pivotal scene from Homer's Odyssey, laden with themes of power, transformation, and the precarious nature of identity. It seems likely to have been made in Europe, given the artist's familiarity with classical literature and mythology. The drawing invites us to consider how cultural narratives are visually constructed. What did it mean to depict such a scene? Was it a commentary on morality, or perhaps on the dangers of unchecked power? We can trace the evolution of the Circe myth through literature and visual art, looking at how different eras interpret and adapt these stories to reflect their own values and concerns. To truly understand this drawing, we need to look at the artistic traditions and intellectual currents of its time. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.
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