A woman in a chariot arrives at the ruins of a building as the Olympian gods look down from above, in the foreground stands an armed female figure; set design from 'Il Pomo D'Oro' 1668

Mathäus Küsel created this intricately detailed set design from ‘Il Pomo D’Oro’ using etching. Küsel lived during a time of immense social upheaval in Europe, including the Thirty Years' War, which deeply impacted artistic expression. The set design presents a fascinating intersection of power, gender, and mythology. We see a woman arriving in a chariot amidst ruins, observed by Olympian gods, with an armed female figure in the foreground. This combination invites us to reflect on the roles and representations of women in positions of authority and strength. Are they acting or being acted upon? The presence of classical figures prompts questions about the construction of cultural narratives. Set against a backdrop that mixes destruction and divinity, this work may prompt conversations about resilience, the cyclical nature of history, and the ever-present gaze of societal expectations. This set design transcends simple spectacle, reflecting the complex interplay between identity, history, and cultural storytelling.