Tiiresias slaat twee parende slangen c. 1590 - 1728

This engraving by Hendrick Goltzius shows the mythological figure of Tiresias striking a pair of copulating snakes. Born in the Dutch Republic, Goltzius was part of a vibrant artistic culture that was reinvigorating the classical tradition. Here, he depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses in which Tiresias, by interfering with the act of love, is punished by being turned into a woman for seven years. We might see this image as an emblem of the social anxieties around gender roles that preoccupied early modern Europe. The story of Tiresias was often invoked in debates about the nature of masculinity and femininity. Through his art, Goltzius offered commentary on the religious and philosophical conventions of his time. To gain further insight into Goltzius's world, we can consult historical texts, religious treatises, and early scientific writings, which help us understand the place of art within the wider culture.