Job op de mesthoop 1538

Editor: This is "Job on the Dunghill," a 1538 drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's rendered in ink – looks like an engraving maybe? – and something about the raw depiction of suffering contrasted with the indifferent bystanders feels intensely… well, medieval. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious biblical narrative? Curator: Oh, I love that you picked up on that feeling. For me, it’s the artist’s hand wrestling with this moment, right? Holbein isn't just illustrating a story; he's grappling with injustice. Notice the contrast in the textures: the delicate hatching defining Job’s tormented skin versus the bold, almost crude, lines depicting the 'righteous' indignation of his friends. Is it indignation, or perhaps something darker bubbling beneath the surface? It makes you wonder what Holbein himself was thinking about authority, piety and perhaps just plain bad luck, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely! And that fire in the background, consuming what appears to be a tiny house, is a stark visual punch. Is it meant to be literal, or symbolic of Job's destroyed life? Curator: Both, I suspect! Think of the medieval worldview – divine retribution made shockingly real. But also, art never depicts only reality. What did the audience who first saw this engraving make of this imagery? Do you think they viewed Job as a patient sufferer, or someone whose pain indicted their society? Editor: I hadn’t considered it as indictment, that changes things. I was so focused on the surface suffering that the social commentary flew over my head. Thanks! Curator: Isn’t that the joy of art? To continually reveal fresh layers and prompt new questions, centuries later? Thank you, for making me look anew, too.