Susanna en de ouderlingen c. 1634 - 1669

This is Nicolaes van Helt Stockade's etching of Susanna and the Elders. Susanna's desperate gesture of outstretched arms is immediately striking. Throughout art history, this pose appears as an archetypal expression of distress. Think of the figures in classical depictions of the Crucifixion; we see it again in the Renaissance, and even later. It is a primal scream rendered visually, echoing through centuries. It evokes a sense of helplessness, vulnerability, and the raw, unfiltered emotion of fear. The predatory leering of the elders is equally significant. It brings to mind similar motifs from medieval demonology. These depictions aren't just about a specific biblical tale, are they? The elders and demons both signify the dark, irrational impulses that lurk beneath the surface of human consciousness, surfacing in moments of moral crisis. The enduring power of Susanna's plight lies in its reflection of humanity’s perpetual struggle against both external threats and the shadows within.