Salmacis en Hermaphroditus 1663 - 1738

This etching, "Salmacis en Hermaphroditus," by an anonymous artist, presents a scene steeped in classical mythology. The image visualizes Ovid’s tale of the nymph Salmacis and Hermaphroditus, son of Hermes and Aphrodite. Made in the Dutch Republic, it reflects a fascination with classical themes and a visual language that circulated widely through prints. Here we see not just a narrative scene, but also an allegory about the dangers of unchecked desire, represented in the story of a nymph who aggressively pursued Hermaphroditus. The popularity of Ovidian tales during this period speaks to a broader interest in stories that explore questions of identity, desire, and transformation. These themes, resonating within the social and cultural landscape of the time, are now something we can understand through the resources available to researchers of social history and visual culture.