Abraham en Sara aan tafel 1665

Gerard de Lairesse created this print, "Abraham and Sarah at the Table," sometime between 1641 and 1711. It illustrates a biblical scene with a distinctly European sensibility. Lairesse, though of French heritage, spent his career in the Netherlands, deeply influenced by the classical tradition of the time. This is obvious in the almost theatrical staging of the scene, where figures are arranged to convey a moral lesson. In this scene, the dynamics of power and gender are hard to miss. Sarah, positioned to Abraham’s right, raises her hand as if in objection, possibly questioning the prophesy of conceiving a child in old age, reflective of the limited agency afforded to women within patriarchal structures. Meanwhile, the presence of servants and children further complicates the social hierarchy. The setting—a lavishly decorated room—speaks to the intersection of religious narrative and social status in the Golden Age. The artwork invites us to consider the varied experiences of those within its frame.