Simson draagt de deuren van de poort van Gaza c. 1506 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer created this engraving of Simson carrying the doors of the gate of Gaza sometime before his death in 1538. Altdorfer, living in the politically charged landscape of the Holy Roman Empire, was deeply engaged with the religious and social issues of his time. Here, we see Simson, a figure from the Hebrew Bible, shouldering the heavy gates, a testament to his divine strength. Think about the emotional weight of this image. Simson, often seen as a symbol of power, is also a figure of complex identity, bound by his vows and his tumultuous relationships. The engraving illustrates a man burdened by both physical and spiritual demands, a narrative that resonates with the period's grappling with faith, duty, and individual freedom. In a time of religious reformation and social upheaval, Altdorfer uses Simson's story to question the nature of strength, the burden of leadership, and the consequences of both faith and betrayal. The artwork invites us to reflect on the burdens we carry, both literal and symbolic, and how they shape our identities.