Diana bezoekt de slapende Endymion 1785 - 1836

This is Antonio Ricciani’s engraving, ‘Diana Visiting the Sleeping Endymion’. Made in the late 18th or early 19th century, it illustrates the Greek myth of Diana, the moon goddess, and Endymion, a mortal shepherd. Consider how the artistic norms of Ricciani’s time shape our view of gender and power. Diana, typically a symbol of female strength and independence, is softened here; she is tender and caring towards the sleeping Endymion. The shepherd is passive, unaware of her presence, which reinforces traditional gender roles. He is the object of her gaze, rather than an active participant in the encounter. Even the cherubic figures in the background contribute to a sense of voyeurism. This depiction invites us to consider the dynamics of desire and vulnerability, asking whether tenderness can truly exist within unequal power structures. How does the image reflect or subvert conventional representations of love, agency, and desire?