Jozef legt dromen uit van schenker en bakker 1628

This engraving, "Jozef legt dromen uit van schenker en bakker," was made by Nicolaes de Bruyn sometime before his death in 1656. The composition is structured around a central figure, Joseph, who stands between two seated men. De Bruyn uses the stark contrast of light and shadow to emphasize the figures. The artist directs our attention to the narrative as each character is framed by oval insets depicting elements from their dreams. De Bruyn uses the visual language of the engraving to explore themes of power, fate, and interpretation. The chains binding Joseph and his fellow prisoners contrast with the symbols of authority and destiny displayed above. These visual elements engage in a semiotic interplay, where objects and figures act as signs, inviting us to decode the underlying meanings of the scene.