Samson imprisoned 1595

Annibale Carracci made this oil painting of Samson somewhere around the late 16th century or early 17th century. You see the artist's hand so clearly in the earthy pigments dragged across the canvas to create the muscular figure of Samson. The artist is working with a long tradition, using these materials to create a sense of drama, and to tell a gripping biblical tale. Yet look closely, and you see a figure slumped in defeat, devoid of all strength, bound and humiliated. Consider the labor that has gone into the depiction of his physique, and how that contrasts with Samson's own loss of physical power. The artist is performing a kind of alchemy here, using base materials to represent a biblical narrative. Consider this work and the story it tells, and remember that materials, making, and context are key to understanding the full meaning of the artwork, challenging distinctions between fine art and craft.