Tityus Gnawed by the Vulture c. 16th century

Editor: Here we have "Tityus Gnawed by the Vulture," an engraving by Nicolas Beatrizet the Younger. It depicts Tityus, a giant, being attacked by a large bird. What historical narratives are at play here? Curator: Consider Tityus as a figure of transgression against the Olympian order. His punishment, eternal liver-eating, becomes a metaphor for the patriarchal condemnation of the monstrous feminine, the insatiable, forever punished. How does the vulture embody this patriarchal control? Editor: So, the vulture isn't just a bird; it's a symbol of power structures enforcing punishment on those who challenge them? Curator: Precisely. And think about the artistic choice to depict the liver, the seat of emotion, being constantly consumed. Isn’t it a potent image of the systematic oppression of feeling, particularly in marginalized bodies? Editor: I never looked at it that way. Thank you. Curator: It reveals how art reflects and reinforces societal power dynamics, inviting us to question and resist them.