Isaak zegent Jakob / De droom van Jakob 1615 - 1651

These engravings of "Isaak zegent Jakob / De droom van Jakob" were made by an anonymous artist. Though undated, we can place these artworks in the context of the popularization of biblical stories in the Netherlands. The images offer visual codes that would have been familiar to viewers. Here, we see Jacob's story represented, divided into two scenes. On the left, Jacob receives Isaac's blessing through deception. On the right, we see Jacob's dream of a ladder to heaven, symbolizing divine promise. The emphasis on these stories is a symptom of the Netherlands at the time. As the Eighty Years' War raged, the Protestant faith was increasingly intertwined with Dutch national identity. The virtues that these stories from Genesis represented were considered important to public morality and were therefore deemed suitable for public art. Further research into the books and pamphlets printed in the region, as well as official records of artistic commissions, would give us an even deeper understanding of the role these images played in Dutch society.