Andromeda c. 1590 - 1595

Agostino Carracci made this etching of Andromeda in the late 16th century. In Greek mythology, Andromeda was a princess chained to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster. This image is revealing for what it tells us about cultural norms in Italy at the time. Carracci was part of an academy of art that emphasized classical artistic styles. The image evokes classical ideals of beauty, but also ideas about female submission and male heroism. The image also perpetuates the trope of the damsel in distress. Andromeda is presented as a passive victim awaiting rescue. The popularity of this image speaks to the ways in which patriarchal ideas were deeply embedded in the culture of the time. To understand this image better, we can look at other artworks from the same period, popular literature, and social histories of gender roles. The meaning of this image is inseparable from its historical and cultural context.