Hercules 1510 - 1569

This engraving of Hercules was made by Jacob Binck in the 16th century. The image comes from a moment when there was renewed interest in classical antiquity, but the figure of Hercules also spoke to the political climate of the time. Hercules, seen from the rear, stands in a shallow niche holding a club in his right hand, and draped with the skin of the Nemean lion. The image has a distinct masculine energy. Hercules was often deployed as a symbol of virtue and strength, and in the 16th century, this image would have appealed to the sensibilities of the Renaissance man. But it also reminds us of the pressures and expectations placed on men to embody these ideals. This print asks us to consider the power and the burdens that come with embodying the heroic ideal, and its ongoing relevance in how we perceive masculinity.