Neue Künstliche Figuren Biblischer Historien 1576

This is a page from ‘Neue Künstliche Figuren Biblischer Historien,’ or New Artificial Figures of Biblical Histories, made by Tobias Stimmer around 1570. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, and printed in ink. Engravings like this were essentially mass-produced images, carefully planned out and executed by skilled artisans. Look closely, and you can see the labor that went into the work, in every tiny line. It is a translation of the biblical story of Joseph into a visual format and therefore a commodity, for consumption by a wide audience. The sharp lines create a stark contrast. The heaviness of the lines also creates depth and shadow, adding a dramatic quality to the scene. This print bridges the gap between fine art and craft, demonstrating the power of reproducible images in shaping cultural narratives during the Reformation.