Isaac blessing Jacob 

Curator: Today we’re looking at a drawing titled "Isaac blessing Jacob". It's believed to be by Samuel van Hoogstraten. This lively piece, worked in ink on paper, appears to be a preparatory sketch now held in the Städel Museum collection. Editor: It’s fascinating! The immediate feeling I get is one of secretive plotting. The lines are so light, so swift – it feels almost conspiratorial, like we’ve stumbled upon a hidden moment. Curator: Indeed. The sketch portrays the biblical narrative where Jacob deceives his blind father, Isaac, to receive the blessing intended for his brother Esau. Its composition highlights this deception as Jacob kneels before Isaac, his form hunched in apparent deference. Meanwhile, Rebecca watches from a corner. Editor: And the social politics are palpable, aren’t they? Isaac, as the patriarch, holds all the power. Yet, it's Rebecca and Jacob who orchestrate this act, manipulating the social structure to their advantage. This act resonates deeply even today; we must be aware of power dynamics, their deliberate or inadvertent manipulation. Curator: That’s precisely what makes this more than just a simple illustration of a Bible story. It mirrors themes prevalent in Hoogstraten’s wider social and artistic contexts. Hoogstraten operated in a 17th-century art market driven by moralising messages, portraiture, and biblical subjects like this one. His work reflects the era’s religious fervor and societal values, as well as the use of narrative to endorse political messages. Editor: It brings forward questions about identity too. Jacob presents himself as someone he isn't to receive a blessing. This intentional misrepresentation, coupled with Isaac's blindness, unveils themes of truth and visibility—challenging historical social constructs. Curator: Absolutely, this deception underscores the constructed nature of identity and authority. This study would have likely served as the basis for a larger painting, so it's a study of an art in process. Editor: I think this small sketch carries such great weight and reminds us of the power that stories have in reflecting, reinforcing, and ultimately, challenging, the social dynamics of their time, and ours. Curator: A valuable point. Hoogstraten, with just a few lines, encourages us to contemplate morality, the influence of matriarchs, and societal deception across ages.