The Rape of Europa
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Rape of Europa is a 1790 ink by Pierre Paul Prud'hon, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
The image depicts a woman being abducted by a bull, with her long hair flowing behind her. The bull's head is turned towards the woman, and its body is partially visible. The woman's right arm is raised, and her left arm is bent at the elbow. The background of the image is a light beige color. The woman's facial expression is one of distress, and her body language suggests that she is struggling against the bull's grasp. The bull's eyes are cast downward, and its mouth is open, revealing its teeth. The overall mood of the image is one of tension and drama. This painting is a representation of a mythological scene, and it is characteristic of the Romanticism movement. To learn more about the artist's use of etching and other techniques, explore the works of Prud'hon, Pierre Paul.
