Susanna and the Elders - Christoffel Jegher

A striking Baroque woodcut by Christoffel Jegher, based on a design by Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the biblical scene of Susanna and the Elders.

This woodcut depicts the biblical narrative of Susanna and the Elders, a subject frequently explored by artists of the seventeenth century. The composition is based on a design by Peter Paul Rubens, as indicated by the inscription 'P.P. Rub. delin. et exc.' at the base of the print. Christoffel Jegher, a skilled Flemish woodcutter, executed the block, translating the painterly qualities of Rubens into the stark, graphic medium of the woodcut.

The scene captures the moment of confrontation within a garden setting. Susanna is positioned at the centre, flanked by the two elders who attempt to coerce her. The figures exhibit the muscular, robust forms characteristic of the Rubensian style. The drapery is rendered with heavy, sweeping lines that suggest volume and movement, while the background features a structured garden with a fountain and architectural elements, providing a sense of depth to the composition.

Jegher utilised a sophisticated technique of hatching and cross-hatching to create tonal variations, mimicking the light and shadow effects found in oil paintings. The presence of the fountain, complete with a small sculptural figure, adds a decorative element to the right side of the frame. The print serves as an example of the collaborative process between designers and printmakers during the Baroque period, where the dissemination of compositions through engravings and woodcuts allowed for the wider circulation of artistic ideas. The work remains a technical achievement in the history of relief printing, demonstrating how woodcut could compete with the finer detail of copperplate engraving through careful manipulation of the block.