Aeneas and the Sibyl in the Underworld 1670 - 1719

Arnold Houbraken created this pen and brown ink with gray wash drawing, titled *Aeneas and the Sibyl in the Underworld,* during the late 17th or early 18th century. Houbraken, a Dutch artist and writer, was deeply immersed in the cultural and intellectual life of the Dutch Golden Age, which favored moralizing subjects from classical literature. In this scene, we see Aeneas, guided by the Sibyl, about to descend into the underworld. As a story, it reflects a patriarchal structure, depicting a male hero on a quest, aided by a female figure whose power is confined to guidance rather than action. The underworld, with its ghostly figures, symbolizes the hidden aspects of the human experience - the fears, memories, and unresolved conflicts that shape our identities. This journey to the underworld can be seen as a metaphor for confronting one's past in order to understand the present. The emotional weight of this scene resides in the anticipation of confronting the unknown, and the personal journey towards self-discovery.