Jezebel sealing the forged letters 1625 - 1649

This engraving, “Jezebel sealing the forged letters,” was created by an anonymous artist and is likely to have been produced as an illustration for a book. It depicts a scene from the Old Testament in which Queen Jezebel conspires to frame Naboth for blasphemy in order to seize his vineyard. Given the dress and architectural style, it's fair to assume that this image was made sometime in the 16th century. It is striking how the image is constructed from a male point of view, and how little sympathy is given to the female characters. A closer look at the book as a historical artifact—its publisher, audience, and reception—could give us a clearer picture of how gender, power, and religion were understood in this period. By exploring the social and institutional context in which images like this one were created, we can begin to understand the complex ways in which art shapes and reflects our values.