Mercurius en Argus 1746 - 1780

Jean Pelletier rendered this print, Mercurius en Argus, based on a painting by Adriaen van de Velde. At its heart, we see Mercury, easily identifiable by his caduceus, lulling Argus, the many-eyed giant, to sleep. Argus, tasked by Hera to guard Io—who was transformed into a heifer—represents vigilance. But consider: in the ancient world, the image of the all-seeing eye dates back to Egyptian mythology and the Eye of Horus, a symbol of protection, royal power, and good health. This motif recurs across cultures. The motif evolves; in some contexts, it represents divine omniscience, and in others, it embodies surveillance and control. As Mercury plays his flute, the scene transforms into a poignant moment of vulnerability. Pelletier captures the power dynamics between the deceiver and the deceived, between wakefulness and the descent into dreams. This is more than just storytelling, it is a reflection of our shared, subconscious understanding of power, surveillance, and the eternal dance between vigilance and slumber.