Fight between Ulysses and Irus

Art Historical Context

In the grand tradition of classical storytelling, Jan Harmensz. Muller's *Fight between Ulysses and Ir* (1589) captures a dramatic episode from Homer's *Odyssey*. Here, the disguised hero Ulysses (Odysseus) clashes with beggar Irus at the palace of Penelope, a moment of raw physicality amid the epic's tension-filled homecoming. Muller's engraving, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, measures an imposing 42.4 × 32.9 cm, its trimmed sheet showcasing the intricate details of muscular forms and dynamic poses. As a leading Dutch engraver of the late 16th century, Muller exemplified Mannerist style with its elegant, elongated figures and theatrical energy, influenced by his time in Antwerp and collaborations with artists like Bartholomeus Spranger. Engraving on ivory laid paper—a premium, smooth medium—allowed for exceptional line work and tonal depth, making prints like this accessible luxury items that spread classical narratives across Europe during the Renaissance print revolution. This work highlights printmaking's cultural power: affordable yet sophisticated, it brought ancient myths to scholars, collectors, and the emerging middle class, bridging antiquity and the early modern world in vivid, reproducible form. A testament to Muller's technical mastery, it invites visitors to ponder the timeless drama of underdog triumphs.

About the Artist

Jan Harmensz. Muller · 1571–1628

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