Meleagre et Atalante c. 17th century

Stefano della Bella created this print, “Meleagre et Atalante,” in the 17th century. It captures a moment from Greek mythology, rich with gendered and social tensions. Atalanta, a skilled huntress, is shown here receiving the trophy of the Calydonian Boar hunt from Meleager. It’s a prize she rightfully earned, piercing the beast first. The dynamic between them speaks volumes. Atalanta, often depicted as an archetype of female strength, here assumes a more passive, receptive pose. Meleager, draped with the boar's skin, presents the prize in what could be read as a gesture of male dominance, even if she was the first to strike the blow. The exchange is far from simple. It embodies the complex negotiations of power, recognition, and gender roles prevalent both in the myth and likely in della Bella’s time. This piece reminds us that even in celebrating a heroine, historical context frames how we see and understand her strength.