Susanna and the Elders - Christoffel Jegher

A detailed seventeenth-century woodcut by Christoffel Jegher, based on a design by Peter Paul Rubens, depicting the biblical story of Susanna.

This woodcut by Christoffel Jegher depicts the biblical narrative of Susanna and the Elders. 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. The scene captures the moment of confrontation, with the two elders looming over Susanna, who sits by a stone fountain.

Jegher was a skilled woodcutter who collaborated with Rubens to translate the painterly qualities of the Flemish Baroque into the medium of the woodblock. The print demonstrates the technical capacity of the period to render complex textures, such as the folds of the elders' heavy robes, the smooth skin of the central figure, and the architectural elements of the garden setting. The use of varied line weights creates a sense of volume and depth, typical of the period's approach to graphic arts.

A small putto figure sits atop the fountain, adding a classical element to the composition. The background features a structured garden with cypress trees and a domed building, providing a sense of spatial recession. The print is a fine example of the reproductive printmaking tradition, where the work of a master painter was disseminated through the technical expertise of a specialist engraver or woodcutter. The bold, confident lines and the dramatic interplay of light and shadow reflect the aesthetic priorities of the seventeenth-century Flemish school. This piece offers a clear view into the collaborative nature of artistic production in the studio of Rubens, where the division of labour allowed for the wide circulation of complex iconographic subjects.