Mercury Lulling Argus to Sleep 

Editor: This is "Mercury Lulling Argus to Sleep," a print by Moyses van Uyttenbroeck. The etching and engraving depict a pastoral scene, but it has a slightly unsettling atmosphere. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This piece offers a potent intersection for examining power dynamics within mythological narratives and artistic representation. The story, derived from Ovid's *Metamorphoses*, depicts Mercury deceiving Argus, who has been tasked by Juno to watch over Io, a lover of Jupiter transformed into a heifer. Looking at it through a feminist lens, what stands out? Editor: Well, Io's transformation feels like a punishment, and Argus, despite being deceived, is essentially enforcing Juno's patriarchal control. Mercury's actions, even if divinely sanctioned, still feel manipulative. Curator: Precisely! Uyttenbroeck, through the landscape setting, invites us to contemplate the natural world as a stage for these power plays. The gaze, the watchfulness of Argus—think of that in the context of surveillance and control. Whose gaze is validated in art history, and whose is dismissed or silenced? Editor: That makes me think about who gets to tell the story and how Io's perspective is completely missing. Curator: Indeed. This etching compels us to question how narratives, especially those perpetuating gendered violence and oppression, are constructed and circulated. How can we, as viewers, become more critical readers of these inherited visual languages? Editor: It's fascinating to consider how a seemingly straightforward mythological scene can be unpacked to reveal so much about power, gender, and representation. I'll definitely look at similar works with a more critical eye now. Curator: It's a starting point. Remember that art is never neutral; it reflects and reinforces societal norms and biases, offering an opportunity for us to challenge them.