Laban Searching for his Idols (Genesis 31: 19-37) 1700 - 1770

Francois Boucher rendered "Laban Searching for his Idols" in ink and wash, a scene derived from Genesis. Boucher, a court artist during the reign of Louis XV, often turned to classical and biblical scenes. Here, the patriarch Laban frantically searches for his stolen household idols. His daughter Rachel conceals them, sitting upon them, feigning illness. There's a lot going on under that tent. It is important to remember that the bible is not just a religious text, it is also an historical one. As a man, I can only imagine what it must have been like to be Rachel in that moment, or any of the other women present in the image. The women's faces are hard to make out as if they are being erased from the story. What must it have been like to experience these events? Ultimately, Boucher uses the drama of the scene to explore themes of deception, family conflict, and the tension between patriarchal authority and female agency, as it becomes a touchpoint for reflecting on power dynamics.