Susanna c. 1560 - 1570

Philips Galle created this engraving titled Susanna, sometime between 1537 and 1612. It is based on the Old Testament story of Susanna, a woman falsely accused of adultery. Galle produced this print during the Counter-Reformation, a period in which the Catholic Church sought to reassert traditional values. Here, Galle grapples with themes of female virtue and the abuse of power, depicting Susanna caught in a voyeuristic scene, observed by elders who later condemn her. This narrative is deeply intertwined with the period’s anxieties around female sexuality and moral corruption. The image presents a complex interplay of gazes, raising questions about who has the authority to look, and the consequences for those who are watched. Galle’s composition, while seemingly moralizing, invites us to reflect on how societal structures often place women in vulnerable positions. Ultimately, this engraving asks us to consider the personal and societal costs of unchecked authority, and to examine the ways in which we participate in systems of judgment and surveillance.