Lot en zijn dochters 1782

Johann Gotthard Müller created this print, "Lot and his Daughters," sometime between 1747 and 1830. It depicts a biblical scene rife with the tensions of identity, morality, and survival. In the aftermath of Sodom's destruction, Lot and his daughters exist in a world stripped bare, where conventional social structures are upended. We see Lot, seemingly unaware, being plied with drink by his daughters. Their actions, driven by the need to continue their lineage, challenge our notions of transgression and necessity. Müller captures the emotional complexity of the story. The faces are etched with a mixture of determination, anxiety, and perhaps a hint of regret. The scene is set in the intimacy of candlelight. This heightens the psychological tension between father and daughters. The print invites us to reflect on the disruption of social norms. It forces us to consider the choices made at the edge of survival, and the complex entanglements of identity, family, and the continuation of community in moments of extremis.