De grote Hercules 1589 - 1650

This is an anonymous engraving of Hercules, likely made to be part of a series of prints. Hercules dominates the scene, his monumental body filling the pictorial space. The figure is sculpted through careful cross-hatching, creating a strong contrast between light and shadow that emphasizes his musculature. The composition is structured around a clear vertical axis, reinforcing the hero’s imposing stature. His nudity, combined with the lion skin draped over his shoulder, underscores his primal power and connection to nature. Hercules stands in the foreground, while in the background, tiny figures are battling monsters and Giants to highlight his divine strength and heroism. This emphasis on Hercules's body and his symbolic attributes makes him a figure of awe and fear. His monumental form becomes a signifier, an embodiment of brute force but also of the triumph of order over chaos, a theme prevalent in classical mythology.