Publius Horatius 1602

Lucas van Haelwech made this print, titled "Publius Horatius," using engraving techniques. The print depicts a triumphant male figure set against a backdrop of conflict and tension. His raised sword and authoritative stance embody a kind of masculine power and might, that has often been used to uphold certain societal structures. But this image also invites us to consider the cost of such power. Look at the bodies beneath his feet, the faceless mass of soldiers in the background, the sky filled with foreboding clouds. These elements create a strong emotional and sensory response, suggesting a world filled with violence and oppression. It makes you wonder, who benefits from this vision of power, and who is sacrificed in its name? How might our understanding of heroes shift if we centered the narratives of those who are so easily lost in the background? This image asks us to grapple with the complexities of heroism, challenging us to consider whose stories are told and whose are silenced in the grand narratives of history.