Artwork
Susanna and the Elders
Susanna and the Elders is a gouache print by the Baroque artist Paul Maupin. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Paul Maupin’s woodcut, dated around 1625, presents a dramatic episode from the biblical narrative of Susanna. Executed on blue laid paper, the image combines stark black lines with selective white gouache highlights, emphasizing the voyeuristic intrusion of two elders as they watch a bathing woman behind a stone wall.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures the moment when Susanna, caught unawares, is confronted by two senior figures who demand sexual favors. Maupin’s rendering heightens the tension, portraying the woman’s vulnerability and the elders’ predatory intent, thereby reflecting the moral conflict central to the scriptural story.
Technique & Style
Created through the woodcut process, the print relies on carved wooden blocks to produce bold, high-contrast lines. Maupin augments the monochrome with white gouache, applied to accentuate the figure’s skin and the surrounding stone, while the blue laid paper provides a subtle tonal backdrop that deepens the visual impact.
History & Provenance
The work originates from early 17th‑century France, a period when religious subjects were frequently reproduced for devotional and didactic purposes. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the piece is attributed to Maupin based on stylistic analysis and dated to circa 1625, aligning with his known output of biblical prints.
Artist & collection
