Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of Pharaoh 1534 - 1547

Jörg Breu the Younger created “Joseph Interpreting the Dreams of Pharaoh” with oil paint on fabric. This choice of ground is intriguing. Unlike wood panel, which was the standard support for paintings in northern Europe at the time, the coarse weave of the linen creates a porous surface for the pigments, resulting in a slightly matte appearance overall. Applying oil paint to such a ground also presented technical challenges: the artist would have had to carefully build up the layers of paint, accounting for the way the fabric might warp or buckle. But the effect gives a more informal quality to the work. We might also consider the social context of this choice: unlike a panel painting, this work would have been relatively easy to transport and display, a feature perhaps related to its likely function as part of a series of narrative scenes. By carefully considering the materials and techniques used in its creation, we can better understand this artwork’s original purpose.