Jozef maakt zich bekend aan zijn broers / Jakob zegent Manasse en Efraïm 1716 - 1791

Pieter Tanjé made this print, titled "Jozef maakt zich bekend aan zijn broers / Jakob zegent Manasse en Efraïm," sometime in the 18th century. This print visualizes two scenes from the book of Genesis. Tanjé, a well-known printmaker in the Netherlands, created this piece in a time when the Dutch Republic was a major center for printing and publishing, and affordable prints like these played a vital role in disseminating information. Prints like this one would have served educational purposes. The Dutch, especially, valued religious education within the household and in schools. The scenes are rendered in a neoclassical style with the figures clad in roman garb, reflecting the influence of classical antiquity. The book of Genesis and the bible, as a whole, could be better understood through visual codes such as these. Analyzing this print, along with other historical sources, such as period books, pamphlets, and engravings, can help us understand the important role of art in shaping cultural and religious identities.