Samson and Delilah 1610

Peter Paul Rubens painted ‘Samson and Delilah’ sometime around 1609 using oil on wood. The image illustrates an episode from the Book of Judges, wherein Samson’s lover Delilah betrays him to the Philistines, revealing that the source of his strength is his hair. The painting demonstrates the prevailing social norms and power dynamics of its time. It depicts Delilah as a seductive figure, who uses her beauty to manipulate Samson, playing into stereotypes about female treachery. The male gaze is evident in the sensual depiction of Delilah, reflecting the patriarchal society of 17th-century Flanders. Rubens was a painter for the court, and he certainly knew what would appeal to his patrons. His art flatters power, and that is always something to consider when understanding his art. The social conditions that shaped artistic production can be researched through examining historical documents, letters, and financial records. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional context.