Hercules Slaying the Dragon
1550
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1550
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This engraving shows a muscular man wrestling a giant snake. He’s half-naked, gripping the snake’s coils with both hands while it twists around him. In the background, there’s a small building with a tower and a few trees—it looks like a quiet village scene. The snake’s tail curls around the man’s legs, and its head is near his face, almost like it’s trying to bite him. The lines in the print are very sharp, making the struggle look intense. If you like this kind of dramatic scene, check out the Renaissance movement next.
