Jozef door zijn broers verkocht 1675

Curator: Let's turn our attention to "Joseph Sold by His Brothers," a 1675 engraving. Editor: The overwhelming impression for me is of betrayal. Look at that group huddled together. What medium was used? Curator: It’s an engraving, so the design was etched into a metal plate and then used to print many copies on paper. The artist masterfully uses the line to depict this scene. The subject, of course, comes from the Book of Genesis, where Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Editor: It's the detail that stuns me—a stark rendering of the trade's human cost. And what is being traded in the foreground? It looks like some sort of heavy bin or case. It brings to mind the question: How does one depict jealousy visually? Is it in the averted gazes, the clutching hands? Curator: Perhaps. The artist does lean on traditional symbols: the well signifying imprisonment or even death, the merchants ready to take Joseph far from home. I am drawn to the camel figures off to the side as well, representative of trade in exotic, sought-after goods. They heighten a viewer's understanding of Joseph's tragic and violent story in his early life, with symbolic meaning. The lines, through the etching and engraving tools, have the effect of a pen drawing, where one stroke represents many. Editor: Considering that this piece is a print, destined for wide circulation, do you think its creation and distribution helped shape a common visual understanding of this Bible story at the time? Perhaps fostering anti-semitism? The historical element is present and it is indeed a piece of history, showing not only technique, but also a worldview that is anything but hidden in its symbolism. The details of this creation may offer clues to who ordered it, to what end and how they wanted this specific element of culture passed down. Curator: Yes, that is very possible. Such images reinforced and visually cemented biblical narratives for a broad audience, a testament to how a seemingly simple image can have considerable cultural weight. Editor: An impactful and well rendered engraving for discussion, a sad story presented by the artist in an evocative tone, showing a certain class aspect that adds another layer to this biblical take.