Dirce wordt aan een stier gebonden 1538 - 1641

This print, made in Rome in 1641, depicts the mythological figure of Dirce being tied to a bull. The artist, who is not known, skillfully uses engraving to convey a dramatic scene of punishment and retribution. The image refers to ancient myths, but it also speaks to the social and political climate of 17th-century Rome. The power dynamics between the figures can be seen as a reflection of the hierarchical society of the time, in which punishment was a very public spectacle that reinforced social control and affirmed existing power structures. Institutions such as the church and the law used such images to uphold moral and social order. To fully understand this work, it helps to consider the historical context of its creation. By examining period texts, social histories, and institutional records, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex interplay of power, morality, and artistic expression in 17th-century Rome. Art is, after all, contingent on its social and institutional context.