Samson Mocked by the Philistines

Jan Steen's Samson Mocked by the Philistines from 1676 depicts the Old Testament hero blinded and humiliated after Delilah's betrayal, a subject that allowed Steen to combine biblical narrative with the boisterous crowd scenes he excelled at painting. This late work shows Steen engaging with ambitious history painting, a genre he practiced throughout his career alongside the genre scenes for which he is better known. The painting's dramatic subject and large scale demonstrate his continued artistic ambition in his final years.

The composition fills the canvas with animated figures tormenting the bound Samson, demonstrating Steen's ability to orchestrate complex multi-figure scenes. His technique combines detailed facial expressions with broader handling of architectural settings and crowd figures.