A detailed hand-coloured engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder, depicting the biblical scene of Daniel intervening to save Susanna from false accusation.

This hand-coloured engraving by Hans Collaert the Elder depicts the biblical narrative of Susanna, a story drawn from the Book of Daniel. The composition captures the moment of intervention, where the young Daniel steps forward to challenge the false accusations brought against Susanna. Collaert, a member of a prominent family of engravers based in Antwerp, demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of the period. The scene is set within a structured urban environment, with architectural elements providing a sense of depth and perspective that frames the central figures.

The figures are rendered with clear outlines and a balanced distribution across the foreground. The use of colour, applied by hand over the engraved lines, differentiates the characters through their garments: deep reds, blues, and ochres define the social and narrative roles of the participants. The inclusion of Latin text at the base of the image, followed by a detailed French commentary, reflects the scholarly and didactic nature of such prints in the sixteenth century. These works were often produced for collectors who valued both the aesthetic quality of the engraving and the moral instruction provided by the subject matter.

Collaert’s work is representative of the Flemish tradition of printmaking, which prioritised clarity of line and narrative legibility. The architecture in the background, featuring domes and gabled houses, suggests a European interpretation of the ancient setting, a common practice among artists of the Northern Renaissance. This print offers a view into the intersection of religious storytelling and the burgeoning market for graphic art in the Low Countries. The preservation of the surrounding book page, complete with handwritten annotations, provides a glimpse into the historical context of how such prints were collected and studied by contemporary audiences.