Badende Susanna 1570

This engraving by Abraham de Bruyn, made in 1570, depicts the biblical story of Susanna and the Elders. Notice Susanna, seated near the fountain, her nudity a symbol of vulnerability, contrasted with the leering gaze of the elders, emblems of lust and deceit. The motif of the voyeur, of hidden observers, isn't unique to this tale. We see it echoed in countless myths and legends—Actaeon spying on Diana, for instance. This act of illicit observation, and the power dynamics it implies, taps into a deep-seated fear of being watched, of having one's private self exposed. The monkey atop the fountain, a symbol of base instincts, reminds us of the ever-present shadow self. The narrative unfolds, the cycle of temptation and its consequences, resonating through time, each iteration a mirror reflecting our collective anxieties and desires.