Simon and His Daughter (Cimon and Pero) 1544

This is Sebald Beham’s 1544 engraving, Simon and His Daughter. The print depicts a tender, taboo scene drawn from Roman history. Simon, chained and sentenced to death by starvation, is kept alive by his daughter Pero, who breastfeeds him. Within the social context of 16th century Europe, such imagery challenged conventional roles and expectations of women and questioned the concept of motherhood. The act of breastfeeding, laden with emotional weight, transcends the purely biological. Beham’s deliberate choice to depict the act of breastfeeding becomes a powerful statement on familial bonds and female agency. The inscription next to the image, translates from old German to 'I live on my daughter’s breast.' This phrase adds a complex layer to the print, highlighting themes of sacrifice and filial devotion. As you consider this print, let yourself contemplate the intricate web of human relationships, societal expectations, and individual acts of defiance that Beham’s work brings to the fore.