Hercules op de tweesprong 1680 - 1757

Mattheus Terwesten created this drawing, Hercules at the Crossroads, using pen in brown and red ink. Here, the hero Hercules stands at a moral fork in the road, a potent symbol of life's consequential choices. Flanked by allegorical figures of Virtue and Vice, the scene is charged with the weight of decision. Virtue extends a wreath, symbolizing honor, while Vice beckons with the promise of earthly pleasures. This choice mirrors the recurrent motif of temptation found in earlier works, such as the Fall of Adam and Eve. The image conveys a psychological tension, a universal struggle between moral duty and personal desire, engaging us on a subconscious level. The gesture is a powerful force, evoking our own internal conflicts. The composition, with its carefully balanced figures, invites contemplation on our own paths. This imagery echoes through art history, resurfacing in various guises, each reflecting its era's values, a testament to the enduring power of symbols.