Jacob and the Flocks of Laban–Jacob's Departure from Laban, from "Dalziels' Bible Gallery" 1865 - 1881

Curator: Here we have Thomas Dalziel’s engraving, "Jacob and the Flocks of Laban—Jacob's Departure from Laban," created sometime between 1865 and 1881. Editor: My immediate reaction is to the sheer industry depicted. You see it in both registers – the hard labor in the upper image and the bustling family exodus in the lower. Curator: Precisely. Dalziel, as part of the "Dalziels' Bible Gallery," aimed to make biblical scenes accessible to a wider audience. It's not just about illustrating the story; it's about reinforcing certain societal values, especially around labor and familial duty, that were prevalent in Victorian England. Editor: And you really get a sense of the Victorian preoccupation with accurate depiction; look at the intense crosshatching employed to render fabric and animal textures, all created through painstaking manual labor. Curator: It speaks to the Victorian interest in realism but also the publishing industry’s influence, mass distribution for instructional purposes with some emotional narrative. The Bible was a social force. These images entered homes, shaping moral and cultural understanding. Editor: And don’t underestimate the material process! This isn’t painting but engraving, it suggests printmaking. You feel how this would have been for circulation: easily reproducible, with those sharp lines designed to hold up to printing presses again and again. The use of this print medium speaks volumes about its intended widespread accessibility. Curator: The dual composition presents interesting juxtapositions, too. Day versus night. Hard outdoor work compared to family life as the lower register almost humanizes the grand narrative. It democratizes the biblical story, aligning with broader social and political currents where the stories become more accessible for people. Editor: I agree. By depicting these familiar biblical events through recognizable, repeatable means, there is an emphasis not on artistic flair but on reliable craftsmanship. These mass reproductions became commodities and cultural values. Curator: Absolutely. "Jacob's Departure" isn't simply about one man's story, it is an accessible biblical reference meant to underscore particular work and familial narratives from both a Victorian and religious point of view. Editor: Looking at the artwork this way makes me appreciate the cultural labor involved, and the broader political influence of material consumption in Victorian society.