Jozef verkondigt zijn dromen / Josef wordt door zijn broers in put gegooid 1615 - 1651

Curator: What a poignant little drama unfolds in this engraving; it’s called "Jozef verkondigt zijn dromen / Josef wordt door zijn broers in put gegooid," placing the proclamation of dreams right next to the brutal consequences. It’s dated sometime between 1615 and 1651. Look closely – you'll find it among the Rijksmuseum's captivating collection. Editor: Instantly, there's this... oppressive atmosphere, wouldn't you agree? It's like a heavy cloud of jealousy hanging over everyone, literally shadowing young Joseph. Even in this small scale I feel so sorry for the boy. Curator: Yes, the artist encapsulates so much emotional turmoil with the simplest lines. Note the composition. In the first scene, the star-filled window, those celestial symbols… a promise almost mocked by the envious figures surrounding Joseph, whilst on the second roundel, look how the circle encloses the violence. Editor: Right! Like a lens focusing all that animosity directly onto him. And those slightly panicked eyes peering over the pit’s edge! Is it horror? Guilt? A terrible satisfaction? Curator: Engravings, you see, force the artist to be ruthlessly efficient. The lines become charged with psychological depth. Consider, too, the context. We are dealing with the biblical story of Joseph, resentment brewing within the family, eventually bubbling up into a destructive act. The dreams themselves… they are almost secondary to the sheer weight of fraternal animosity portrayed here. Editor: It’s that sense of immediacy, the rawness of the action. One moment, there are dreams and grand pronouncements, next –bam!— a plunge into the dark pit of despair and sibling treachery. Very economical the representation, although I would enjoy a less cluttered picture! Curator: Yes, perhaps there's an intentional overcrowding to symbolize the brother's animosity closing in upon him... this piece really gets you thinking about betrayal, doesn't it? About dashed dreams. Editor: It does. Even in its miniature form. Curator: I think I agree. Such a tale about shattered ambitions and malevolence, captured so vividly through lines etched deep in metal and imprinted into us.