Telemachus doodt Adrastus 1775

Simon Fokke made this print, Telemachus doodt Adrastus, sometime between 1712 and 1784 using etching. It depicts a scene of violence amidst the backdrop of an army. In the 18th century, images like this were more than mere illustrations; they were deeply entwined with the political and social narratives of the time. Fokke, positioned as a white European male, was creating art for a society that was grappling with issues of power, colonialism, and identity. What does it mean to depict violence, especially when it involves bodies marked by gender and status? Consider Adrastus, vulnerable and defeated, at the hand of Telemachus. These images often served to reinforce existing social hierarchies, but perhaps they also provide a space to reflect on the human cost of conflict. Fokke invites us to confront uncomfortable truths about power, vulnerability, and the stories we tell ourselves about history.