Dochter van Farao vindt Mozes in het biezenmandje 1659 - 1694

Paul van Somer II created this drawing, "Daughter of Pharaoh Finds Moses in the Basket," using pen in brown ink around the late 17th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the symmetrical composition of the figures. The artist uses a light brown ink that gives the entire scene a warm, monochromatic tonality which softens the starkness of the biblical narrative. Van Somer's approach to line is quite interesting. He uses fine, delicate lines to define the contours of the figures, giving them a sense of classical elegance, but then contrasts this with looser, sketchier lines to suggest the landscape and the background details. Notice how the structure of the drawing, with its grouping of figures and the architectural backdrop, creates a sense of depth and theatrical space, almost as if it were a stage. This adds a layer of artifice to the scene, inviting us to consider the representation itself as much as the story being told. It suggests that the act of viewing is constructed through both the symbolic and the visual.