Hercules and Dejanira
ca 1590
Hendrick Goltzius, a Dutch master of Mannerism, captures a surprisingly tender moment between the mythological hero Hercules and his wife Dejanira in this drawing from around 1590. Notice how the incredibly muscular hero leans in for a kiss, his back turned to us, while Dejanira gazes back with a mix of affection and perhaps a hint of foreboding—after all, their story ends tragically! In the background, tiny figures dance and play, contrasting the heavy, sculptural forms of the lovers with a lively, almost dreamlike landscape. Goltzius was famous for his incredible engraving skills, and you can see that precision here in the delicate hatching and shading that makes their skin look almost three-dimensional.
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