Jozef en de vrouw van Potifar 1620 - 1654

Here we see an anonymous etching from the Rijksmuseum collection, titled "Jozef en de vrouw van Potifar." The composition is dominated by a stark contrast of light and shadow, typical of the etching technique, that creates a dramatic intensity. The figures are rendered with fine, precise lines, typical of engravings, giving a sense of depth and texture to the scene. The artist uses line and form to explore themes of temptation, morality, and resistance. Joseph is shown in a moment of confrontation, a structural turning point in his narrative, where his virtue is tested. This scene destabilizes conventional expectations, inviting a deeper reflection on the semiotics of power, desire, and ethics. The artwork functions within a larger cultural discourse about moral virtue and resistance to temptation. It uses formal elements not just aesthetically but as part of a visual and intellectual argument.