SUSANNA

In the first exhibition ever devoted to the biblical figure of Susanna in art, the Wallraf addresses a narrative and pictorial tradition which could hardly be more topical against the backdrop of the MeToo movement. With SUSANNA – Images of a Woman from the Middle Ages to MeToo, the Cologne Museum demonstrates that the abuse of power and sexual violence has been the subject of painting for centuries: the biblical story of the assault on Susanna by two judges has had a profound influence on art since the Middle Ages. This special exhibition illustrates this with superb works by masters such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Anthony van Dyck, Eugène Delacroix, Édouard Manet and Lovis Corinth, as well as remarkable pieces by contemporary female artists like Kathleen Gilje, Zoe Leonard and Heike Gallmeier. In a fascinating way SUSANNA traces the diverse interpretations of the biblical narrative, the stylistic preferences, the changing demand in the art market, as well as the rivalry and artistic discourse ignited by the subject of Susanna. The exhibition, which contains over ninety exhibits and includes loans from prestigious international museums and private collections, runs from 28 October 2022 until 26 February 2023 exclusively in Cologne.