Mercury And Argus 

Jacob Jordaens painted ‘Mercury and Argus’ in oil on canvas, using traditional techniques. The smooth brushwork and naturalistic palette are characteristic of the Flemish Baroque style. Yet, look closely and you'll see that Jordaens wasn't just interested in surface appearances. The careful arrangement of the figures, the play of light and shadow, all emphasize the artifice of the scene. Argus, the hundred-eyed giant, is lulled to sleep by Mercury's flute. The cows grazing in the background are a reminder of the economic stakes involved: Argus is guarding Io, who has been transformed into a heifer. Jordaens himself came from a family of cloth merchants, and he understood the value of a good story, well told. The painting speaks to the power of deception, the value of vigilance, and the ever-present tension between appearance and reality. It is a reminder that what we see is not always what we get.