The Fall of Jericho 1563 - 1573

Gerard van Groeningen made this drawing of “The Fall of Jericho” sometime in the late sixteenth century. It depicts a scene from the Book of Joshua, where the Israelites, led by Joshua, marched around the city of Jericho for seven days with the Ark of the Covenant until its walls collapsed. This detailed drawing, produced in the Netherlands, reflects the religious and political tensions of its time. The Protestant Reformation had a profound impact on the region, leading to the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. Biblical scenes like this one often served as a visual language through which artists could comment on contemporary issues of power, faith, and resistance. The story of Jericho, in particular, could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggle against a seemingly insurmountable oppressor. To fully appreciate this artwork, we need to consider the social and institutional contexts in which it was produced and consumed. Art history uses textual and visual resources to understand not just what the artwork represents, but how it functions within the society that created it.