Standbeeld van Venus 1631 - 1637

This engraving of the statue of Venus was made by Claude Mellan, a French artist, in the 17th century. Mellan was known for his innovative technique of using a single line to create tonal variations. Standing before us is Venus, a figure that has historically been the subject of so many projections. Here, she is captured in a way that emphasizes her body, draped but still visible, and yet her face is turned away from the viewer, as if in contemplation. This averted gaze suggests a complex interplay between visibility and interiority, and between the objective and the subjective. The apple in her hand, an attribute connected to her role in the Judgement of Paris, becomes symbolic of choice, beauty, and perhaps, a subtle form of power. Rather than simply replicating classical ideals, Mellan's engraving invites us to reflect on the gaze, the representation of the female form, and the narratives we construct around figures of beauty and desire.