Amymone meegenomen op de rug van zeegod 1500 - 1578

Curator: This engraving, created sometime between 1500 and 1578, is called "Amymone meegenomen op de rug van zeegod," which translates to "Amymone Taken Away on the Back of a Sea God." It's part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. It’s an intriguing example of Northern Renaissance printmaking. What do you make of it? Editor: The figures appear serene, almost listless. It’s a stolen moment, frozen. But there is also a feeling of melancholy emanating from the depiction, despite its beauty. Curator: It depicts the Greek myth of Amymone and Poseidon. Amymone, you see, was one of the Danaides, who, while searching for water, was pursued by a satyr, when Poseidon, god of the sea, intervened. Editor: This encounter could be seen through a more critical lens. I wonder, how can we reconcile the narrative of divine intervention with the underlying themes of forced encounters and violated consent that might be inferred by contemporary theories and frameworks. Curator: That’s certainly a valid reading, and one we must confront. The artist—who remains anonymous, adding another layer of mystery—used engraving techniques to bring a sort of softness to the subject. Do you see how light seems to almost caress their bodies? And the landscape receding behind them has a hazy almost dreamlike quality. Editor: The way Amymone reclines against Poseidon almost as if she's trying to maintain her balance speaks volumes. Perhaps, we're looking at the moment of uneasy negotiation and ambiguous agency. Her passivity shouldn’t negate her involvement in the power dynamics. Curator: I suppose the real drama lies not just in the image but in our shifting perspectives across time. This drawing acts like a mirror. We gaze in, expecting a myth and discovering, perhaps, our reflection instead. Editor: Yes. It reminds me that narratives around art are contingent, reflecting our own ethical and historical moments. Thanks for helping me view the artwork in a totally different light.