Ô jeugd! zie in deez' prent / Dat de onschuld somtijds lijdt, / Hoe 't lot van Jozef toont, / Maar God haar redt en loont c. 1814 - 1820

Curator: Here we have "O Jeugd! zie in deez' prent / Dat de onschuld somtijds lijdt, / Hoe 't lot van Jozef toont, / Maar God haar redt en loont," an engraving by Gerrit Oortman, created circa 1814 to 1820. It's currently held in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Immediately, the density of this print strikes me. It's like a storyboard condensed into a single image. Makes you want to slow down, piece by piece, and then reflect, slowly. Curator: Precisely. The piece adopts a narrative-art style and visually recounts the biblical story of Joseph. Oortman employs a medieval aesthetic in his depiction, emphasizing themes of history, religion, and morality, viewed through the lens of genre painting. The succession of scenes gives insight to period views of faith and didactic visuality. Editor: Seeing those little figures acting out high drama in these boxed vignettes...it almost feels like looking at shadow puppets or actors in a shoebox diorama. I almost imagine them coming to life, with creaky voices! Curator: I agree; each frame isolates moments that speak to larger socio-political dynamics, and enduring issues around identity, oppression, and power, as illustrated by Joseph's trials and eventual triumph. This artwork isn’t just an innocent story; it's layered with historical interpretations and moral assertions. Editor: I also feel how much story is trying to be held in each box. It feels very Dutch in the best way. Homey and like your moral instruction is woven into a very busy sampler you stitched yourself! Curator: Indeed, the textual elements contribute significantly. This print goes beyond mere illustration; it also attempts to deliver moral teachings relevant to contemporary viewers. Editor: Well, between the detailed storytelling and its function as moral lesson, I now feel like I know both a lot and very little about what I’m actually seeing! Curator: Precisely the effect of a rich, layered work! Editor: It’s made me grateful for Oortman’s work!