Cephalus en Procris by Jan van Ossenbeeck

Cephalus en Procris

1660

0:00
0:00

Artwork details

Medium
engraving
Dimensions
height 186 mm, width 152 mm
Copyright
Rijks Museum: Open Domain

Tags

#baroque#old engraving style#landscape#figuration#history-painting#engraving

About this artwork

Jan van Ossenbeeck created this small engraving entitled ‘Cephalus and Procris.’ The composition is simple yet powerful. Note how Ossenbeeck uses the stark contrast of light and shadow to direct our eyes. On the left, Procris is seated in the shade, while on the right, Cephalus stands in the light. This division underscores the tragedy unfolding in the Ovidian myth, where Cephalus accidentally kills his wife, Procris, with a javelin. The dense cross-hatching of the engraving technique creates a rich texture, emphasizing the figures' emotional weight. Observe how Cephalus's gesture seems to accuse rather than console, challenging our understanding of grief and remorse. Ossenbeeck destabilizes conventional representations of mythological narratives. It encourages us to question the fixed meanings and power dynamics inherent in classical stories. The formal elements of light, shadow, and line converge to disrupt narrative expectations, inviting us to reinterpret this tragic encounter anew.

Comments

Share your thoughts