Solomon's Idolatry 1517 - 1518

Lucas van Leyden created this engraving titled ‘Solomon’s Idolatry’ during the Northern Renaissance, a period marked by religious reformations and cultural shifts in Europe. Van Leyden tells the biblical story of King Solomon, who, swayed by his foreign wives, turned away from the monotheistic worship of God and began venerating pagan idols. Here, we observe an intersection of religious narrative and gendered power dynamics. Solomon's wives, representing foreign cultures, are depicted as the conduits through which idolatry enters his kingdom. Consider the symbolic weight of the kneeling woman, seemingly petitioning Solomon; her posture embodies submission, hinting at the persuasive influence wielded by the women in Solomon's life. It's a story of the dangers of succumbing to foreign influences and the disruption of religious purity, while also touching on the historical anxieties surrounding female influence and power. Van Leyden's work invites us to reflect on the tensions between religious conviction, cultural exchange, and gender roles that continue to resonate.