Polyphemus Begging Ulysses for More Wine n.d.

John Flaxman created this pen and ink drawing, Polyphemus Begging Ulysses for More Wine, around 1793. Note the stark lines and the dramatic contrast in scale. The giant Polyphemus looms, squatting with a mix of anticipation and desperation, as the comparatively tiny Ulysses pours wine. This deliberate manipulation of scale isn't just about physical difference, it highlights the imbalance of power and intellect. Flaxman uses line to define form, but also to create a sense of movement and tension. Look at the way Polyphemus's body is rendered with flowing curves, suggesting a raw, almost brutish energy, while Ulysses is depicted with sharper, more controlled lines, emphasizing his cunning and strategic mind. The seemingly simple drawing uses classical themes to explore ideas about civilization versus barbarism, intelligence versus brute force. In this composition, Flaxman isn't merely illustrating a scene, he's presenting a complex interplay of power, desire, and deception through form and line.