Absalom zit met zijn haar vast in een terpentijnboom 1737 - 1803

Franz Sigrist created this print, "Absalom Caught by his Hair in a Terebinth Tree," sometime in the 18th century. It depicts a scene from the Hebrew Bible. Absalom, son of King David, leads a rebellion against his father. During battle, Absalom's hair becomes entangled in a tree, leaving him vulnerable to his enemies. The image is full of cultural references. The story of Absalom was often invoked in political discourse to warn against rebellion. Consider the context of 18th-century Europe, where monarchies faced increasing challenges to their authority. Religious narratives were frequently repurposed to comment on contemporary social and political issues. Printmaking, like this one, became a key medium for disseminating such ideas. To fully understand this image, we might research the printmaking industry of the time, the artist's biography, and the political climate in which he worked. Remember that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context, and our understanding evolves as we uncover more about that context.