Van Iacob en Esau 1646

"Van Iacob en Esau" (Jacob and Esau), a 1646 woodcut by Jan Philipsz Schabaelje, is a depiction of the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau's rivalry. The artwork is a detailed and expressive rendering of a text passage, with the emphasis on the word “ladder” highlighting Jacob's dream. This piece, like many of Schabaelje's woodcuts, uses a formal style, characteristic of early Dutch printmaking, with detailed illustrations and ornate borders. "Van Iacob en Esau" is housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.