Odysseus 

Jacob Jordaens painted ‘Odysseus’ in the 17th century, capturing a pivotal moment from Homer's Odyssey. Jordaens, a Flemish Baroque painter, was working in a society deeply influenced by classical literature, which was used to examine contemporary political and ethical issues. Here, the hero Odysseus orchestrates his escape from the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus. This scene is charged with tension: the cunning Odysseus has blinded the giant, and now, hidden beneath the bellies of sheep, he and his men are poised to slip away unnoticed. The painting is a study in contrasts. The vulnerability of Odysseus, clinging to the underbelly of a sheep, versus the raw, brute power of the cyclops. The scene asks us to consider the use of intellect versus physical force, civilization versus barbarism. This is not just a tale of adventure, but an exploration of survival, and how identities are shaped by struggle.