Alceste, Euadné, Artemise, and Helene, from 'The game of queens' (Le jeu des Reines renommées) 1644

Stefano della Bella created this print, "Alceste, Euadné, Artemise, and Helene, from 'The game of queens'" in the 17th century. During this period, women's roles were often narrowly defined, and depictions of women in art frequently reinforced these societal expectations. Here, four queens are represented, Alceste, Euadné, Artemise, and Helene. The artist presents us with a narrative about "good" women, with each queen embodying particular virtues or tragic fates related to their relationships with men. Alceste is known for sacrificing herself for her husband, while Euadné throws herself on her husband's burning corpse. Artemise is depicted as a caring widow. Helene is represented as the most beautiful woman of her time, who was abducted by Paris, son of King Priam, and taken to Troy. The print invites us to consider how women were perceived and portrayed in the 17th century, often as figures defined by their relationships to men. The stories of these queens provoke a reflection on the pressures and expectations placed on women.