Medusa en gestorven krijger 1759

This print of Medusa and a fallen warrior was made by Christian Bernhard Rode, who was working in Germany in the late 18th century. Rode was a history painter, so he turned to classical mythology to comment on contemporary society. The image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. Medusa, with her snake-covered head, and the fallen warrior at her side would have been widely understood as a symbol of the dangers that women pose to men. Rode seems to be warning against female power. The artwork comments on the social structures of its time, revealing the conservative attitudes toward women that prevailed in 18th-century Germany. The Rijksmuseum’s rich collection of prints and reference library provide key resources to deepen our understanding of this artwork and the cultural context that shaped it.