Genesis 27: Jacob sent to his Uncle Laban 15th-16th century

Curator: This woodcut print, "Genesis 27: Jacob sent to his Uncle Laban," presents quite a dramatic scene. I wonder what strikes you first? Editor: That hunter fleeing in the background—it's as if all the internal drama of the family is playing out in a very literal external world. Is he meant to be Esau? Curator: Yes, that is Esau hunting as Jacob receives Isaac’s blessing, before being sent to Laban to find a wife. The anonymous artist uses a single plane, no depth to speak of! Editor: The lack of depth emphasizes the emotional weight, I think. Everyone is so close, their destinies intertwined. The food offering feels weighty, not just as a gift, but like a symbolic burden. Curator: A burden of deception, perhaps. Notice how the artist uses stark lines to define the figures, heightening that sense of emotional tension. Editor: It makes me think about how even the most intimate family moments are steeped in archetypal struggles. Power, inheritance, love... it’s all there, etched in black and white. Curator: Absolutely. This piece really captures the raw essence of family dynamics. Editor: In a nutshell, yes. You could say it has a lot to say about the human experience!