Joseph Revealing Himself to His Brothers 1516

Jacopo Pontormo made this panel painting of oil on wood, depicting 'Joseph Revealing Himself to His Brothers'. The traditional, Renaissance-era techniques are apparent: the layering of thin glazes to achieve luminosity, the careful modeling of figures, and the composition, all displaying an incredible amount of skill, training and labor. Oil paint allows Pontormo to create the illusion of depth and texture, but it's also a material that allows for revision and refinement, aligning with a culture of courtly patronage. Yet, it is through the arrangement of figures that Pontormo challenges classical ideals. Rather than a balanced composition, the artist crowds figures together in a compressed space, creating a sense of unease. The colors are also far from naturalistic; they are heightened and artificial. Looking closely at the painting, we understand that the meaning comes from the artist's skilled manipulation of his materials, and social and aesthetic context.