Susanna en de ouderlingen 1761 - 1804

Jörg Breu the Younger made this print of Susanna and the Elders with an unknown medium at an unknown date. The subject, taken from the Book of Daniel, represents a stark power imbalance within a community. Here we see Susanna, surprised while bathing, confronted by the lascivious gaze of the elders. The visual codes of the time, in Northern Europe, likely in the 16th or 17th century, would have immediately signaled this as a cautionary tale about female virtue and male authority. Yet, it also hints at the hypocrisy of those in power. The elders, figures of respect within their community, abuse their position, turning a moment of private vulnerability into an opportunity for coercion. As historians, we can delve into period legal and religious texts to understand the prevailing attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and authority. By examining the cultural context, we see how art becomes a potent tool to both reflect and challenge the social structures of its time.