Hercules Strangling the Nemean Lion, from the Labors of Hercules

Art Historical Context

This woodcut captures the dramatic first labor of Hercules, in which the hero strangles the invulnerable Nemean Lion with his bare hands. around 1528 by Gabriel Salmon, the print belongs to a series illustrating the mythological hero’s feats, drawing on classical stories that held renewed fascination during the Renaissance. The compact composition emphasizes raw physical power and tension, inviting viewers to admire both the legendary strength of Hercules and the artist’s ability to convey movement through bold, carved lines. As a woodcut on paper, the work reflects an important development in early modern printmaking. The technique allowed images to be reproduced in multiples, making mythological subjects accessible beyond elite collectors and placing them in books, homes, and workshops across Europe. Salmon’s choice of this medium highlights the growing role of prints in spreading cultural and moral narratives during the sixteenth century. Today, this impression in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of Prints and Drawings offers a tangible link to that era, preserving both the enduring appeal of Hercules’s story and the craftsmanship of early woodcut artists. Its modest size—roughly the dimensions of a small book page—further underscores how such prints were designed for intimate, repeated viewing.