Athena - Pl. I from the "L'Odyssee" portfolio

 

Andre Masson

  1896 - 1987 (biography)

1977 /78 

etching and color aquatint 

19 7/16 x 13 11/16" platemark 

pencil, lower right 

39 of 120  

pencil editioned, lower left 

Cramer 111 

ivory Rives velin wove 

published 

UNESCO World Heritage for the project to save the Acropolis 

JPR110 

$1,500.00 

In mythology, Athena, the patroness of the city of Athens, is the goddess associated with wisdom and war. She was also masterful in weaving and stitchery, and inventive and some associate Athena with the invention of the war chariot and the warship. With her art of wisdom, Athena guided Odysseus during his decade long journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War but she also bestowed wise counsel to Heracles, Jason and Perseus. Athena is often depicted as the goddess of war and that is how Masson presents her. She is dressed in a citron which is fastened at her shoulder, wears a Corinthian helmet, and holds a long spear in one hand and a shield in the other. The gestural lines in the upper left could represent a flying owl which is often depicted with Athena.