Esau verkoopt zijn geboorterecht 1563

Cornelis Cort’s “Esau verkoopt zijn geboorterecht” (1563) is an engraving that depicts the biblical story of Esau selling his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of lentil stew. The scene takes place in a wooded landscape, where Esau is shown sitting on the ground and reaching out for the food while Jacob holds the bowl and a staff. The engraving is a fine example of the printmaker’s skill and the importance of biblical narratives in 16th-century art. The piece is now part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum.