Odysseus offert aan de goden 1632 - 1633

Theodoor van Thulden created this print, "Odysseus offert aan de goden", or “Odysseus Sacrificing to the Gods,” in the 17th century, a period marked by the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age. Van Thulden, working within the Baroque tradition, depicts a scene derived from Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey. This print encapsulates the prevailing societal values and religious undertones of the time. What strikes me is how this image perpetuates a certain power dynamic. Odysseus, a figure of authority, engages in ritual sacrifice—a practice loaded with social meaning. We see how the artist uses the visual language of the period to reinforce notions of heroism and piety, but it is important to consider what is being sacrificed in the name of these ideals. The act of sacrifice itself is visually arresting, prompting consideration about the cost of such divine appeals, and the identities of those who bear that cost.