Amnon verkracht Tamar 1559 - 1579

Philips Galle produced this engraving, Amnon verkracht Tamar, in the Netherlands sometime between 1550 and 1600. It represents a scene of sexual violence, derived from the Old Testament story of Amnon and Tamar. The image is replete with cultural references. We see the interior of what appears to be a royal bedchamber, complete with ornate furniture and heavy drapery. This is a setting of power and privilege, emphasizing the social status of the figures involved. The discarded objects on the floor—vessels, a helmet, a shield—serve as visual metaphors for the violation and disruption of social order. Engravings such as this were made for a growing market of collectors and connoisseurs. So this image raises questions about the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production during this period. To better understand this engraving, one might research the history of printmaking in the Netherlands, the reception of biblical stories in Renaissance art, and the social norms surrounding gender and sexuality in 16th-century Europe.