Medusa was considered one of the most terrifying creatures in Greek mythology. She was a Gorgon, a creature portrayed as a human female with wings and live poisonous snakes for hair. Everyone who looked at her face would be turned to stone.
Over the centuries, the tale of Medusa has been interpreted and reinvented in a number of ways, and artists have found several ways to portray her in their works. The Medusa drawings by Maes, as well as the iconic Medusa paintings by Caravaggio, Rubens, and others, are among the most recognized portrayals of Medusa in art.