Simson verslaat de Filistijnen met een ezelskaak / Simson draagt de poorten van Gaza 1716 - 1791

This etching, “Simson verslaat de Filistijnen met een ezelskaak / Simson draagt de poorten van Gaza”, by Pieter Tanjé depicts two scenes from the biblical story of Samson. In the top half, Samson, a powerful man with supernatural strength, is shown defeating the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. The lower half of the etching shows Samson carrying the city gates of Gaza on his shoulders. This series of etchings by Tanjé, completed in 1743, illustrates the book of Judges and is part of a larger collection housed in the Rijksmuseum. The artist uses a masterful understanding of light and shadow, creating a dramatic effect that emphasizes Samson’s strength and determination.