Jupiter roept de goden samen 1685 - 1732

Philip van Gunst created this engraving, "Jupiter roept de goden samen," and it is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The engraving depicts Jupiter summoning the gods, set against a landscape. Van Gunst renders classical mythology with a decidedly Northern European vision. The scene invites us to reflect on how cultural narratives are translated and reinterpreted through the lens of local traditions. The bodies of the gods and goddesses, rendered in varied states of undress, also reveal the complex interplay between power, sexuality, and representation. This work illustrates the social status and cultural values of the era in which it was made, and the way classical themes were employed to legitimize authority and reinforce societal norms. It prompts one to consider how such depictions contribute to broader discourses around gender, power, and the construction of identity.