Jug with the story of Susanna c. 1584 - 1600

This salt-glazed stoneware jug depicting the story of Susanna was made in Germany around the late 16th or early 17th century by Engel Kran. The image of Susanna and the Elders is taken from the Book of Daniel, in which Susanna is falsely accused of adultery by two elders after she refuses their sexual advances. It raises questions about female virtue and male authority. Made at the time of the Reformation, the jug’s imagery may reflect the period’s religious tensions. While the story of Susanna appears in the Catholic Bible, it is excluded from the Protestant Old Testament. The jug’s owner may have been making a statement about their religious beliefs, or perhaps more generally about the hypocrisy of religious authority figures. Understanding the historical context of an artwork like this requires looking at sources from the period, such as religious texts, social commentaries, and craft records. These can provide insight into the cultural and institutional forces that shaped its creation and reception.