Joseph and Potiphar's wife 1705

Editor: This engraving, “Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife,” was created by Hieronymus Ferroni in 1705. The contrast is intense; the expressions dramatic. It feels…charged. How do you interpret the symbols in this print? Curator: Charged is certainly a key word! This is not just a depiction of a biblical scene, but an exploration of power dynamics and moral choices represented through visual symbols. Notice Joseph’s fleeing figure, leaving his garment in the woman’s hand—a powerful symbol of resisting temptation. But let's think more broadly, is this only about faith or temptation? Editor: I guess not. It’s almost like his flight itself—the act of choosing to flee—becomes a symbol. The dramatic chiaroscuro really emphasizes his movement. Curator: Precisely. Light and darkness act as potent signifiers here. Light illuminates Joseph, symbolizing purity and divine favor, while the surrounding darkness could hint at deception or the shadowed motivations of Potiphar’s wife. Even her clinging grasp can be seen as a symbol of both desire and the oppressive power she wields as a figure of authority in that moment. What do you make of the bed? Editor: It's central, framing the scene but almost… oppressive? The heavy curtains, the slight disarray...it reinforces that sense of power imbalance. I hadn't considered the setting as symbolic beyond just being a backdrop! Curator: These artists really packed a lot of symbolism in there. Remember, images speak; it’s a dialogue with the past and our present too. The cultural memory embedded here reveals the complex and continuous struggles around gender, power and personal integrity. Editor: It's incredible how much information is encoded in what at first seems like just a dramatic scene. It's definitely given me a new perspective!