Mankind surrendering to lechery before the Flood: embracing couples on benches around a table with food and drink, from "Liber Genesis" 1612

Editor: This intaglio print from 1612 by Crispijn de Passe the Elder, titled "Mankind surrendering to lechery before the Flood," really captures a sense of hedonistic chaos. People are embracing, eating, and drinking, seemingly oblivious to impending doom. How do you interpret this work in terms of its historical and social context? Curator: It's crucial to view this piece through the lens of the artist’s socio-political climate. The Baroque period was marked by religious and political upheaval, particularly the clash between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. De Passe, working in the Netherlands, would have been keenly aware of debates around morality, sin, and divine judgment. The print visualizes a specific interpretation of the Genesis story. But what societal anxieties do you think this depiction of "lechery" might reflect? Editor: Perhaps anxieties surrounding social order and the potential consequences of moral decay. The figures are very sensual. There’s a real sense of abandon that could be seen as threatening to traditional values. Curator: Exactly. De Passe critiques this supposed moral corruption through a narrative lens, drawing on established religious texts and iconographies. But let’s think more deeply about the idea of ‘lechery’ itself. Who gets to define what is lewd, immoral, or sinful, and whose bodies are most often policed by these definitions? How does this artwork participate in a longer history of pathologizing pleasure, particularly female pleasure? Editor: That’s a powerful point. By labeling these people as ‘lechery’ the artist is potentially reinforcing dominant power structures, condemning certain behaviors, especially when gender comes into play. Curator: Precisely. Considering these factors adds a layer of critical complexity that enriches our understanding of the artwork and its relevance to social discourse about power, morality, and representation. Editor: This has been a really thought-provoking exploration. I'm beginning to think that these historical narratives of morality have lingering impacts that influence even modern interpretations. Curator: Absolutely. By acknowledging those complicated legacies, we encourage dialogue, inspire critical engagement, and work toward more equitable readings of art history.