Cacus Robbing the Cattle of Hercules 

Jacob Jordaens created this print, “Cacus Robbing the Cattle of Hercules,” which illustrates a scene from Roman mythology. Jordaens, a leading Baroque painter in Flanders, tells a story of theft and deception. Cacus, a fire-breathing giant, steals cattle from Hercules, dragging them backward into his cave to hide their tracks. Jordaens invites us to consider the intersection of power and morality through this mythological narrative. The muscular figures of the men contrast with the women and children, perhaps reflecting societal norms around gender and labor. How does Jordaens portray the moral complexities inherent in stories of heroism and villainy? Is Cacus simply a villain, or is there something else at play here? The way Jordaens tells the story really provokes questions about who gets to be a hero and who is cast as the villain. The composition invites us to reflect on how stories of power and morality resonate with contemporary issues of social justice and equity.