Achilles en de dochters van Lycomedes 1636 - 1679

Frans van den Wijngaerde made this engraving, "Achilles and the Daughters of Lycomedes," in the 17th-century Netherlands. It depicts a scene from Greek mythology that allows us to consider ideas about gender, war, and disguise. The image creates meaning through visual codes that would have been familiar to a 17th-century audience. Achilles, disguised as a woman, is revealed when he reaches for a sword instead of jewelry. This reflects a society in which gender roles were strictly defined, and men were expected to be warriors. The Dutch Republic was a major military and economic power. We can understand this artwork better by looking at the history of gender, the art market, and the artist's biography. What was it like to be a female artist in 17th century Netherlands? What does it mean that the artist chose to depict Achilles in this way? Such questions can provide insights into the social and institutional contexts that shaped its production.