Beeld van een van de zonen van Niobe

Cornelis Pronk’s detailed red chalk drawing, "Beeld van een van de zonen van Niobe" (Image of one of Niobe's sons), captures a moment of classical myth in a deeply visceral form. The work showcases Pronk’s adeptness with red chalk, which he uses to delicately define the muscles and expressions of his subject.The subject of the piece, one of Niobe’s sons, is portrayed in a moment of despair or perhaps fatal resignation, reflecting the tragic tale from Greek mythology where Niobe, proud of her fourteen children, boasted of her superiority to the goddess Leto, who had only two children, Apollo and Artemis. In retaliation, Apollo and Artemis killed all of Niobe's children. Pronk’s depiction focuses on one son, his body language evoking a sense of tragic collapse as he sits on the ground, his body tilting back, head thrown upwards while his eyes appear closed, encapsulating his profound sorrow or impending doom.The setting is minimally suggested with trees and foliage in the background, but the drawing concentrates on the figure’s emotion through physical expression. The skillful rendering of the human form, combined with the emotional intensity, captures the essence of this mythological story’s theme of human vulnerability and divine retribution, making Pronk’s work not just a visual treat but a medium through which the poignant tale resonates.