Jozef biedt zijn broers een feestmaal aan 1645 - 1740

This print, made by Christoffel van Sichem II, likely dates to the early 17th century, and was created using woodcut. You can tell this by the crisp lines and the way that the image seems almost embossed from the page. The process begins with a block of wood, laboriously carved to leave the design raised. This is then inked and pressed onto paper. Woodcut was a common technique for disseminating images widely, playing a vital role in circulating narratives. Here we see a biblical scene, and the relatively crude execution speaks to its function as an inexpensive, accessible item. What’s interesting is to consider how the handwork of the artist contrasts with the more refined scene they depict. Check out the architecture. The print bears witness to early capitalism, and its need for readily distributed imagery. Yet, the very material from which it is made speaks of hand labor and the skilled artisan.