Merkur dræber Argus 1600 - 1700

This is a pen and brown ink wash drawing, titled ‘Mercury slaying Argus,’ by an anonymous artist. The subject comes from classical mythology. The god Mercury was sent to slay Argus, a giant with a hundred eyes, who was guarding Io, a nymph who had been turned into a heifer by Zeus. The meaning of the image arises from the way it brings together visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The themes of deception and power were very much alive in the political and social history of Northern Europe. The drawing might be linked to the artist’s beliefs, culture and even his financial status. What was his background? Did he belong to a particular school? Did he have any known patrons? To understand this intriguing drawing better, we can turn to historical sources, archives, and other records. Art is never created in a vacuum; it reflects the cultural and institutional forces of its time.