Jakob en Rachel bij de waterput 1683 - 1733

Curator: This print, titled "Jacob and Rachel at the Well," dates roughly from 1683 to 1733 and is attributed to Bernard Picart. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The technique employed is engraving. Editor: It's so contained. That circular frame focuses everything inward, highlighting this very staged scene of pastoral life. Curator: The depiction pulls heavily from the biblical narrative. Jacob, arriving at the well, assists Rachel by watering her flock. It's a prefiguration, of course, for their eventual marriage and lineage. Editor: And look at the precision in rendering fabric and form using such meticulous line work! The lines themselves give volume and weight to those heavy wooly sheep. I’d love to know more about Picart's tools and methods. Curator: These prints were, of course, designed for wider dissemination. Consider their role in educating the populace with biblical scenes but also shaping societal values, presenting idealized visions of family and labor. Editor: Exactly, which brings up questions about accessibility. Who were the consumers of this imagery, and what labor went into its creation? These weren’t mass produced as we know it now. Curator: Fair point. Its mode of production gives the image a certain aura despite its dissemination purpose. And in art history, this print plays a significant role in understanding how biblical stories were visualized and distributed. The artistic style embodies a baroque sensibility filtered through engraving. Editor: Beyond the dissemination and biblical narrative, there is something fundamentally human in how carefully each animal, and indeed, each strand of wool is given dimension. It feels like an honest appreciation for material existence. Curator: Looking at the image reminds us about the societal impact that prints can generate and its lasting implications on art-historical records. Editor: I’m more focused on how Picart worked so elegantly in this medium, using line and tone so judiciously. It emphasizes how artistic practices intertwine the social and material world.