Izaäk en Rebekka voor Abimelech 1677 - 1755

Elias van Nijmegen created this watercolor titled "Izaäk en Rebekka voor Abimelech." This piece illustrates a scene from the Book of Genesis, highlighting themes of deception and divine intervention. Van Nijmegen, working in the Dutch Republic, infuses this biblical narrative with the sensibilities of his time. What we see is a visual representation of power dynamics and gender roles in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, overlaid onto a classic story. The figures are rendered with a certain theatricality, their gestures and expressions heightened. The artist seems to invite us to consider the vulnerability of Rebekah, who is presented as a woman caught in a web of deceit spun by her husband, Isaac. The king, Abimelech, occupies a place of power, embodying the patriarchal structures of the time. Through this artwork, Van Nijmegen not only tells a biblical tale but also reflects on the social norms and gender expectations of his own era. The emotional tension in the scene underscores the precariousness of identity and the consequences of deception.