A powerful Baroque woodcut by Christoffel Jegher, based on a design by Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the mythological struggle between Hercules and Discord.

This woodcut, executed by Christoffel Jegher, reproduces a design by Peter Paul Rubens. The composition depicts the mythological hero Hercules in a moment of violent action, raising his club to strike the personification of Discord. The figure of Discord lies beneath him, entangled with a serpent, while a small winged putto hovers above, adding a sense of dynamic movement to the scene.

Jegher was a master of the woodcut medium, and his collaboration with Rubens allowed for a translation of the painterly qualities of the Baroque style into the graphic arts. The print demonstrates the technical skill required to achieve varied tonal effects through hatching and cross-hatching, which mimic the musculature and textures found in Rubens's original drawings. The bold lines and dramatic contrast between light and shadow define the figures, creating a sense of physical weight and tension. The inclusion of the inscription 'P.P. Rub. delin. et exc.' acknowledges Rubens as the designer and publisher, while Jegher's own signature appears at the bottom, marking his contribution to this collaborative effort.

This work reflects the interest in classical themes that permeated the seventeenth-century Flemish art world. The muscularity of Hercules, a hallmark of Rubens's style, is rendered with precision, showing the influence of Italian Renaissance masters on the Northern Baroque tradition. The print is a fine example of how woodcut technology was utilised to disseminate complex compositions to a wider audience, maintaining the energy and narrative clarity of the original design. The composition remains balanced despite the chaotic nature of the struggle, with the figures arranged to guide the viewer's eye through the central conflict.