Socrates en Xantippe 1655 - 1700

Curator: Jan van Somer’s engraving, dating somewhere between 1655 and 1700, depicts a rather… contentious domestic scene titled "Socrates and Xantippe". Editor: My immediate impression is less historical reverence, and more a spectacle of dominance. The stark contrast between the near-nude Xantippe riding Socrates, wielding a rather cartoonish bladed weapon, it’s… bold, to say the least. Curator: The image certainly plays into long-standing tropes about Xantippe, Socrates’ wife. Historical accounts, likely colored by misogyny, portray her as a shrew, a constant source of aggravation for the philosopher. The engraving then seems to visualize that narrative. Editor: Absolutely. The symbols are blatant, almost comical. Socrates, the wise philosopher, is literally brought to his knees, weighed down. The weapon, and the classical drapery hints at an Amazonian warrior… Curator: Precisely! These kinds of works reflected very clear social mores. They warned about powerful women who overstep their roles, threatening the patriarchal order. Note the bookcase behind Xantippe: classical learning that’s about to come tumbling down? Editor: Exactly. Even her near nudity is telling. The female nude, outside of purely religious contexts, served to expose women as carnal creatures, dominated by earthly appetites that must be controlled by the reasonable man. But… is it possible to read against the grain here? Curator: You mean see something other than what I am pointing out? Perhaps Xantippe here is asserting herself against an established order that had been suppressing female voices and agency? Editor: Perhaps… Or maybe she simply reminds us that even the greatest minds have their moments of earthly challenge. It is refreshing to see the "wise old man" with egg on his face. Curator: Well, whatever one chooses to read into the artwork, the lasting legacy here demonstrates just how complicated the battle between sexes is. It is definitely on display here. Editor: I would have to say that I leave this engraving viewing Xantippe’s figure and the context in new light and understanding the importance of multiple vantage points.