Be taught from the previous — that’s an attraction generations of youngsters have been listening to in historical past class, and maxim museums take into consideration after they curate exhibitions. The Cologne exhibition “Susanna. Pictures of a Girl from the Center Ages to Metoo” exhibits how nicely that method works for artwork historical past.
Biblical Susanna
Susanna is the central and sole topic of the present. Her story is advised within the Bible below the title “Susanna within the bathtub” or “Susanna and the (two) elders.”
A pious and delightful society spouse in Babylon within the sixth century BC, Susanna is stalked by two lecherous previous judges. They assault her as she undresses for a shower. She defends herself, vehemently and efficiently, however the males then accuse her of getting dedicated adultery. She is arrested, and located responsible in a trial. A younger boy by the title of Daniel seems and convinces the gang of the true story. The 2 previous males are sentenced to demise, and Susanna is returned to her household.
There are in truth two completely different Susanna narratives. The Septuagint model was in all probability written within the 1st century B.C. and has a distinct emphasis when it comes to content material. The Susanna story that’s most generally advised is the model discovered within the Previous Testomony — a model referred to numerous instances in authorized historical past and within the arts.
90 instances a sufferer, 90 instances an offender
The Cologne exhibition is the primary to showcase all of 90 Susannas. The Susanna story was in any case not a marginal phenomenon: she exhibits up in on a regular basis objects like carved wood cupboards in addition to in magnificent work by Rembrandt and Rubens.
Might or not it’s that sexualized abuse has all the time been a theme? Curators Anja Sevcik and Roland Krischel discover this query by relating the numerous variations of Susanna in a brand new manner and confronting them with trendy questions. Guests see Susanna in numerous roles, from helpless sufferer to girl who defends herself, and are introduced with offenders whose assaults are roughly violent, who flip demonic, antisemitic and racist. The varied variations are clear and comprehensible, together with their ethical and/or erotic cost.
The various completely different roles and themes make Susanna such an fascinating topic, the curators argue, from righteous rule and robust religion to marital chastity, social morality, magnificence and voyeurism. They don’t suppose “intercourse sells” was the principle motive for patrons and artists, however that they had been after emotionally stimulating pictures which in flip made the Susanna motif so standard.
All the identical, they agree that the male gaze, which is a manner of girls that sexualizes them, is unquestionably noticeable. Because the fifteenth century, Susanna has largely been painted or drawn bare, typically in extravagant poses. However, it’s a younger seventeenth century painter named Anthonis van Dyck who most strongly denounces the presumptuous male perspective, based on Krischel.
Position reversal
It turns into clear {that a} reversal units in the place Susanna is portrayed in a extra eroticized trend. The alluring girl comes throughout as co-actor, which reverses the roles — in court docket proceedings or public debates even in the present day, girls are sometimes suspected of complicity in sexual violence, as an illustration in the event that they put on something remotely horny. Relying on the case, the absence of a shawl could also be sufficient. The results vary from acquittal for offenders, to shaming girls and even to the demise sentence.
Artemisia Gentileschi — a feminist icon
Artemisia Gentileschi’s Susanna is a spotlight within the exhibition. The Italian Baroque painter (1593-1654) was a extremely embellished, busy painter, which was uncommon for her time. Gentileschi labored in giant codecs and executed many historical past work — normally reserved for male painters — in addition to mythological and biblical topics.
The long-forgotten painter was rediscovered by feminists within the Sixties and ’70s — Gentileschi typically painted photos with feminine heroines, together with Judith, Lucretia, Cleopatra, Mary Magdalene and Susanna. The ladies are portrayed as brave, decided and energetic. At this time, Gentileschi is taken into account a proto-feminist, anticipating trendy feminism when the idea didn’t but exist.
Modern Susanna motif
The exhibition additionally shines a lightweight on modern artwork, together with the Susanna motif in Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller “Psycho” and photographic positions, as an illustration by the American artist Zoe Leonard.
It is sensible to method the problem of sexualized violence through artwork historical past, as illustration is an issue and express depictions may very well be re-traumatizing or just degrading. The truth that there may be nonetheless an awesome want to speak about boundaries, alleged consent and sufferer blaming even in the present day grew to become overly clear within the wake of the #MeToo motion. The museum gives guided excursions for college courses with protected areas for debate. It’s a promising, inventive mannequin to assist folks overcome inhibitions and open up in regards to the subject of sexual violence.
The “Susanna” exhibtion is on on the Wallraff-Richartz Museum in Cologne from October 28 to February 26, 2023.
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