Perseus toont het hoofd van Medusa

About this artwork

pen in zwart, penseel in grijs

Art Historical Context

This delicate pen-and-ink drawing by Flemish artist Godfried Ma captures a dramatic moment from Greek mythology: the hero Perseus triumphantly displaying the severed head of Medusa. Created between 1659 and 1700, the small work (just 178 by 234 millimeters) reflects the Baroque era’s fascination with dynamic storytelling and emotional intensity. Maes, active in Antwerp during the late seventeenth century, often explored classical themes in his drawings, using them as studies for larger paintings or prints that adorned the homes of wealthy collectors. Executed in black pen with gray brush washes, the technique allows for crisp lines and subtle shading that bring movement and depth to the scene. The limited palette emphasizes the artist’s skill in conveying texture and light without color, a hallmark of preparatory drawings from this period. Such works highlight how artists like Maes bridged painting and printmaking traditions. As a compact mythological study, the drawing invites viewers to appreciate the enduring power of ancient tales in European art, where heroism and horror intertwine to explore human courage and fate.

About the Artist

Godfried Maes · 1649–1700

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