Samson Slaying the Philistines with the Jawbone of an Ass c. 1584 - 1585

Curator: Gosh, this image radiates a kind of chaotic energy, doesn't it? Look at all the figures tumbling over each other. Editor: Indeed! This is "Samson Slaying the Philistines with the Jawbone of an Ass" by Anton Wierix II. The print depicts the biblical story, and it's held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Curator: A jawbone, no less! What a bizarre yet potent symbol. In that moment, Samson embodies the outsider. Editor: The jawbone represents the absurd weapon. A symbol of both humble means and the unpredictable nature of divine intervention. You know, it makes me wonder about the deeper meaning. Is it about unexpected strength? Curator: Oh, absolutely! The contrast between the ordinary tool and extraordinary outcome feels like a message. Like, we all have access to unimagined power, if we just lean into our true nature. Editor: Perhaps... Wierix's vision of Samson touches on the enduring themes of power, faith, and the unpredictable tools of destiny. Curator: Well said. It's kind of liberating, isn't it? Maybe we all have a metaphorical jawbone lying around somewhere.