Roof van Proserpina 1782

Adam von Bartsch created this ink drawing, "Roof van Proserpina," capturing a violent abduction scene drawn from classical mythology. Here we see Pluto, god of the underworld, forcefully carrying Proserpina to his chariot. The image resonates with the ancient motif of abduction as a symbolic representation of seasonal change and death, echoing through time from ancient Greek vases to Renaissance paintings. This forceful embrace, the wild horses, and the swirling chaos around them are not merely illustrative. Consider how the image of Proserpina's abduction has been repeated and revised throughout history, each time reflecting changing cultural attitudes toward power, desire, and the natural world. Pluto's firm grasp is reminiscent of similar poses in countless works depicting power dynamics, tapping into primal fears and desires that lie deep within our collective psyche. The cyclical nature of this myth—Proserpina's annual return bringing spring—suggests a profound human need to reconcile with the inevitability of loss and rebirth. This powerful scene continues to haunt our cultural memory, resurfacing in various forms to remind us of the eternal dance between light and darkness.