Sculptuur van Meleager 1595 - 1622

This print captures an ancient sculpture of Meleager, a hero of Greek myth, immortalized with his spear, hunting dog, and the head of the Calydonian Boar. The boar's head is particularly potent. The Calydonian Boar was sent by Artemis to ravage the land, a divine punishment sparking a heroic hunt. This motif echoes through time, reappearing in various forms, from medieval tapestries to Renaissance paintings, symbolizing man's struggle against primal forces. Consider the psychological weight of the hunt: a confrontation with untamed nature, a battle between order and chaos. The dog by Meleager's side—a symbol of loyalty and instinct—can be compared to similar representations of dogs with the goddess Diana, and other symbols linked to the hunt, suggesting a cyclical return of archetypal figures and their primal drives. Notice the emotional intensity—the hero’s poised stance, the boar's severed head, the dog’s loyalty. Such imagery creates a powerful force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The symbols here are part of a cultural memory, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across history.