The Elders Trying to Seduce Susanna c. 1579

Curator: This is "The Elders Trying to Seduce Susanna," an engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder. I'm drawn to the symbolism here, the contrast between purity and lechery, played out in a garden, no less. Editor: The garden is interesting. I'm struck by the material reality of the print itself. Look at the lines, the way the engraver has rendered the textures of fabric and flesh. Curator: It's a classic morality tale, isn't it? Susanna represents innocence, unjustly accused. The Elders are the embodiment of corrupt power, abusing their position. Editor: Yet Collaert's technique, the labor involved, elevates it beyond mere moralizing. Notice the detail in the fountain, it's almost a catalog of material culture. Curator: And those details reinforce the broader themes. The garden, the fountain, are symbols of abundance and temptation. Susanna's virtue shines against that backdrop. Editor: I see it, but the very act of engraving, the multiplication of this image, speaks to a broader social commentary on power, consumption, and dissemination of these narratives. Curator: Well, seeing the symbols and archetypes really brings the story to life for me. Editor: For me, it's the tangible evidence of labor and social context that allows the story to resonate.