Roof van Proserpina c. 1550 - 1600

Giuseppe Scolari created this print titled 'Roof van Proserpina', which translates to 'The Rape of Proserpina'. This title immediately situates the artwork within a history of representing female bodies as objects of male desire and power. Scolari, working in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, was part of a society deeply entrenched in patriarchal norms, where women's autonomy was severely restricted. The image depicts Proserpina being abducted by Pluto, a scene that reinforces the normalization of violence against women. Notice Proserpina's raised arm, is it a gesture of defense or desperation? Such depictions weren't merely artistic expressions, but reflections of societal beliefs about gender roles and power dynamics. Scolari's work, while rooted in classical mythology, speaks to the enduring challenges of female agency and the critical need to question the stories we tell and the images we create.