Begrafenis van Simson 1569

This engraving of the Funeral of Samson was made by Philips Galle in the Netherlands sometime around 1600. It depicts a scene from the Old Testament book of Judges, but it does so in a way that is strikingly contemporary to Galle's time. Note the ruined classical architecture: broken columns, tumbled blocks, and a partially collapsed dome. These details would have resonated with Galle’s contemporaries as the visual codes of fallen empires. Galle is alluding to the decline of Rome, and perhaps commenting on the transience of earthly power. Who is Samson in this context? To understand this image fully, we would need to investigate Galle's artistic training, the political and religious context of the Dutch Republic, and the influence of classical learning on Northern European art. Only then can we appreciate the complex layers of meaning embedded in this seemingly simple print.