Hercules, grasping Antaeus at the waist with both arms and lifting him off his feet, in background at right the ruins of a temple, at left a group of trees against which are posed a club and the skin of a lion 1495 - 1555

Marcantonio Raimondi created this engraving of Hercules and Antaeus, sometime between 1500 and 1534. The composition is dominated by the intense struggle between the two figures, rendered with a stark contrast of light and shadow, characteristic of engraving. Note the sinuous lines defining their musculature, conveying the tension and exertion of their grapple. Hercules, known for his strength, lifts Antaeus, whose power derives from contact with the earth. In this print, Raimondi masterfully uses line and form to explore themes of strength, vulnerability, and the triumph of intellect over brute force. The figures are set against a classical landscape, with ruins of a temple subtly alluding to the weight of history and mythology. Consider how the artist uses the contrast of light and shadow to dramatize the scene, heightening the sense of movement and struggle. This contrast functions not only as an aesthetic choice but also as a deeper cultural and philosophical investigation into the nature of power and the conditions of human existence.