Samson and Delila
Original title: Samson and Delila
kurzbeschreibung
Jacob Matham's engraving "Samson and Delilah" was made between 1585 and 1631. It presents the biblical episode in which Delilah cuts the sleeping Samson's hair while another woman looks on and, through a door in the background, two men enter the room.
Description
An interior with a couch in the foreground, on which Samson lies. Delilah bends over him and cuts his hair, while a second woman watches from the side. Two knights step in through an open door. Vases and a fireplace furnish the room, and the light falls evenly.
Context
Jacob Matham worked as a Dutch engraver and was a son of the famous Hendrick Goltzius. In Haarlem he produced numerous reproductive prints after designs by other artists. The story of Samson and Delilah was very popular in 17th-century Dutch art and often served as a warning against the dangers of seduction.
Impact
The print's precise linework and thoughtful layout give it a calm, narrative quality. The even lighting and exact rendering of figures and space lend it a clear, almost sober presence.
Technique
An engraving, in which the image is incised into a copper plate. After the plate is inked, it is printed onto paper, producing exact lines and fine shading. The monochrome effect is characteristic of this printing process.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)