Jozef en de vrouw van Potifar 1572

This engraving by Pieter Jalhea Furnius, made around 1600, captures the biblical tale of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. The image is dominated by the contrast between Joseph's frantic escape and the seductive pose of Potiphar's wife. Note Joseph's cloak caught in her grasp, a powerful symbol of temptation and resistance. This motif echoes through art history. It appears in classical depictions of nymphs chasing satyrs, and later, in scenes of virtuous figures resisting worldly allure. Consider how the act of fleeing—the averted gaze and outstretched arms—resonates with primal instincts. It's a gesture of self-preservation, a visual embodiment of moral conflict. The symbolism transcends the religious narrative, tapping into collective anxieties about desire, power, and the struggle between virtue and temptation. This visual language persists, a testament to the enduring power of these archetypal struggles.