Medusa | Franz von Stuck | 1908

About the artwork:

This version of Medusa by Franz von Stuck (1908) presents a dramatically different composition from the usual head-alone depictions of the myth. Here, von Stuck captures the intense moment of confrontation between Perseus and his enemy, using the severed head of Medusa as a weapon. The painting is dominated by deep, almost unnatural shades of blue, creating a nocturnal and otherworldly atmosphere. The figures are rendered with powerful musculature, their dynamic poses emphasizing movement and tension. Perseus, on the right, wields Medusa’s head like a shield, while his opponent recoils in horror, his body twisting away from the deadly gaze. The expression on Medusa’s face is ghostly and unsettling—her wide, vacant eyes and open mouth suggest both lingering consciousness and the terror of death. The use of dramatic lighting, with pale, glowing highlights on the figures against the dark, stormy sky, enhances the sense of mythological grandeur and psychological depth. This version of Medusa is not just about her monstrous power, but also about the fear and violence surrounding her legend, aligning with von Stuck’s fascination with the primal and the sublime.