Abraham en Sara bij koning Abimelech 1569

Etienne Delaune created this small engraving, “Abraham and Sarah with King Abimelech,” sometime in the mid-16th century. During this period, artists were often influenced by religious and political events, like the Reformation, which encouraged new interpretations of biblical stories. Delaune’s print captures a moment of negotiation steeped in gendered power dynamics. Sarah, presented as a commodity, becomes central to a transaction between men. Abraham’s willingness to offer his wife to King Abimelech, and Abimelech’s subsequent restitution, highlights the limited agency women possessed. The etching invites us to consider how women were positioned within these ancient narratives and how such stories might reflect the societal norms of Delaune’s time. The emotional landscape here is complex; Sarah’s expression is unreadable, leaving us to wonder about her feelings. Delaune uses his craft to subtly comment on the social structures of his time, prompting viewers to reflect on the roles and representations of women in both religious and secular life.