Herkules og Nessus 1568

This engraving, made in Germany in 1568 by Balthasar Jenichen, depicts Hercules slaying the centaur Nessus. Hercules, a figure of strength and virtue, becomes a tool to reinforce existing power structures. Produced during the Renaissance, this work exemplifies the period’s revival of classical themes. The figure of Hercules, bow in hand and cape billowing, is rendered in painstaking detail. The dying centaur conveys a moral message about the triumph of civilization over barbarism. Note the landscape background which places the figures in a generalized classical setting, typical of the Northern Renaissance. This print was made at a time when printed images were becoming more widespread. Studying such images involves understanding the economic and social conditions that allowed for their creation and circulation. This print not only reflects artistic trends, but also the broader cultural and intellectual climate of 16th-century Europe.