Saul bij de heks van Endor 1685 - 1732

Philip van Gunst created this print depicting Saul and the Witch of Endor. It shows a biblical scene fraught with questions about power, gender, and spiritual authority. The story comes from the First Book of Samuel. King Saul, facing defeat, seeks counsel from the Witch of Endor, a woman with forbidden spiritual powers. The print captures the moment when she summons the spirit of the prophet Samuel. In a patriarchal society, the witch represents a challenge to traditional authority. She’s a woman operating outside the bounds of religious and political power, yet Saul, the king, turns to her in desperation. The emotional intensity of the scene is palpable, from the witch’s focused concentration to the fear of Saul’s companions. Van Gunst invites us to consider the complexities of power, belief, and the ways in which those on the margins can hold unexpected influence. The print doesn’t simply illustrate a biblical story, but it invites us to reflect on the anxieties surrounding gender, power, and the supernatural that continue to resonate today.