Jacob Being Shown Joseph’s Blood-stained Coat c. 1650

Carel van Savoyen created this ink drawing, Jacob Being Shown Joseph’s Blood-stained Coat, in the 17th century. This small drawing captures a fraught moment of patriarchal and familial crisis. In the Book of Genesis, Joseph’s brothers deceive their father, Jacob, into believing that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. Savoyen renders Jacob as an older man seated and surrounded by women, presumably his wives, who are also grieving. One of Joseph's brothers displays the bloodied coat. The image is a study in the performance of masculinity, and how male identity is intertwined with notions of lineage and legacy. The lie about Joseph’s death is not merely a personal betrayal but a disruption of the patriarchal order. The raw emotion captured in this drawing reflects the profound impact of familial deception, and loss during a time when family was central to social structure.