Joseph and Potiphar's Wife 1650 - 1699

Balthasar Griessmann created this small sculpture of "Joseph and Potiphar's Wife" in the 17th century from a block of ivory. Griessmann used specialized carving tools to remove material from the ivory block. The image shows the biblical story of Joseph resisting the advances of his master's wife. Ivory possesses a unique combination of density and workability, which allows for incredibly fine detail, as we can see in the woman's hair, or the folds of the bedsheets. The carving process involves both subtractive techniques, cutting away at the material, and additive ones, like polishing, to achieve the smooth finish. Ivory carving was a luxury trade, reliant on colonial exploitation and global trade networks. It required both skilled labor, and the consumption of exotic materials, thus reflecting the social and economic inequalities of the time. Appreciating the artistry also asks us to consider these ethical implications, which are inseparable from the object itself.