Neptunus verleidt Iphimedeia 1623 - 1676

François Chauveau created this drawing, Neptunus verleidt Iphimedeia, likely in the mid-17th century, using pen and brown wash on paper. Chauveau was a leading printmaker during the reign of Louis XIV, a time when French art and culture were used to project power and solidify the king’s image. This drawing depicts a scene from Greek mythology: Neptune, the god of the sea, seducing Iphimedeia. The image is charged with the power dynamics of the time, reflecting the era's social hierarchies and the limited agency of women. What does it mean to portray a woman as being seduced by a god? Does it glorify power and male dominance? Or does it critique the vulnerability of mortals against divine will? The drawing invites us to consider the intersections of power, gender, and mythology, and to reflect on the stories we tell and the values they perpetuate.