Ugolino and his Sons: Fifth Day (recto); Dante and Virgil: Anatomical Studies (verso) 1870 - 1880

This drawing by Auguste Rodin captures a scene from Dante's Inferno, illustrating Count Ugolino and his sons in the Tower of Hunger. The motif of the desperate father devouring his children, though not literally depicted here, is heavy with symbolic weight. The image resonates with the ancient Greek myth of Chronos, who swallowed his children to prevent them from usurping him, a symbol of the anxiety of succession. This motif of consumption reappears throughout history—consider Goya's Saturn devouring his son—reflecting deep-seated fears of loss and betrayal. Here, the despairing embrace is a potent gesture—seen time and again in depictions of grief, from the Pietà to modern photographs of war. It speaks to a primal, visceral connection, highlighting our shared human experience. The raw emotion Rodin captures engages us on a subconscious level, a stark reminder of our own vulnerabilities. This cyclical progression of symbols highlights their enduring relevance, continually resurfacing and evolving with each retelling.