The Stoning of the Elders 1520 - 1540

Pseudo-Aert Ortkens created this pen and brown ink drawing "The Stoning of the Elders" sometime between 1510 and 1540. During this period, religious reformations were reshaping European society, challenging established norms around moral authority. Here, the artist depicts a biblical episode from the Book of Daniel where the prophet exposes two elders for falsely accusing Susanna of adultery. The community, once swayed by the elders' status, turns against them, enacting a brutal form of justice. Ortkens captures the moment of collective rage, the figures contorted in motion as they hurl stones at the condemned. The round format invites us to consider the cyclical nature of justice and morality, how easily a community can shift from reverence to violence. The artist uses stark lines to convey the raw emotion of the scene, and invites us to reflect on the dangers of unchecked power and the human capacity for both righteousness and cruelty.