Jozef verkoopt graan aan zijn broers 1522

This woodcut depicting Joseph selling grain to his brothers was made by an anonymous artist. It brings to life a scene from the Book of Genesis, but it does so through the lens of a particular time and place. Looking closely, we see that the artist has imagined ancient Egypt as a medieval European kingdom. The figures' clothing, the architecture, and even the landscape details reflect Northern European visual culture. This wasn't unusual; artists often interpreted biblical stories in ways that resonated with their contemporary audiences, embedding their own social and cultural context into the narrative. In this case the artist creates meaning and relates to his audience through familiar visual codes. Understanding this work requires us to consider the religious and cultural milieu in which it was produced, and the ways in which biblical stories were used to convey moral and social lessons. The study of such images involves looking at everything from religious texts and cultural histories to the economic conditions that made the production of such works possible. In this way, we come to appreciate how even the most familiar stories are shaped by the times in which they are told.