Josephs Keuschheit und der Potiphar Untreue 1852

This is Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld's "Josephs Keuschheit und der Potiphar Untreue," housed in the Städel Museum. Executed using delicate lines, the composition captures a dramatic scene of struggle and defiance. The figures of Joseph and Potiphar's wife are rendered with a focus on form and posture. The formal qualities here create tension and tell a story. Potiphar's wife reaches out to detain Joseph, whose arms are raised in resistance, while the drapery suggests a sense of disarray. The interplay of light and shadow from the linear hatching models the contours of their bodies and adds depth to the scene. The artist's use of classical motifs—such as the architectural elements and the stylized drapery—creates a deliberate framework for the artwork, embedding it within a tradition of moral and historical narratives. The composition is not just an illustration; it is an engagement with fundamental ideas about virtue and temptation. The formal control that is present here reflects the artist’s intellectual engagement with the subject.