Genesis 50: Joseph's Father's burial 15th-16th century

Curator: Here we have an intriguing woodcut titled Genesis 50: Joseph's Father's Burial, created by an anonymous artist. Editor: The stark black and white really emphasizes the solemnity of the scene, doesn't it? A real somber mood from the cross-hatching. Curator: Absolutely. Notice how the ritualized gestures of lowering the body into the tomb speak to ancient burial rites and beliefs about the afterlife. Editor: I'm struck by how the artist rendered the textures, especially on the rock face. It makes me think of the labor involved in carving both the block and the tomb itself. Curator: That is interesting. The image reminds us of the enduring power of visual symbols to convey cultural memory. Editor: It does highlight the value and labor involved in both art production and ancient traditions. Curator: Indeed, both in life and in art.