Susanna and the Elders 1913

Franz von Stuck made this Susanna and the Elders, in oil on panel, at some point, though we aren’t sure exactly when. What strikes me here is the bold and confident use of color to create depth and tension. There’s this deep, almost velvety black that surrounds Susanna, setting off the pale flesh of her body. Then, those voyeuristic elders are lurking in the background, rendered in these hot, almost cartoonish reds and oranges. The contrast is jarring, and it's meant to be. It throws Susanna’s vulnerability into sharp relief. The way the paint is applied – so smooth and almost porcelain-like on her skin, then thick and textured in the dark curtain and water – speaks to Stuck's mastery of his medium. It also tells a story about concealment and revelation, which, of course, is the story of the painting itself. I see echoes of painters like Courbet, who also dared to depict the body with such unapologetic honesty and sensuality. Ultimately, the painting is a testament to the enduring power of art to provoke, challenge, and, yes, even titillate.