Vrouw van Potifar 1769

Louis Marin Bonnet rendered this print, “Vrouw van Potifar,” using pastel manner in the 18th century. Here, the subject’s gaze is drawn upward, evoking a sense of longing or supplication, a silent plea that resonates deeply. Observe how this upward glance echoes across centuries, a motif seen in Renaissance depictions of saints, their eyes turned towards divine inspiration. It is a visual echo, a bridge connecting Potiphar's wife of the Old Testament with the figures of faith. The story is alive in our collective memory. This motif resurfaces time and again, evolving with each retelling, each representation. Bonnet's image is more than a portrait; it is a touchstone, a moment of reflection in the ever-turning wheel of history.