Joseph Telling His Dreams to His Brothers c. 16th century

Editor: This engraving, "Joseph Telling His Dreams to His Brothers" by Nicolas Beatrizet, depicts quite the dramatic scene! What do you notice about the material production that speaks to its meaning? Curator: I observe the printmaking process itself. The act of engraving—a laborious, reproducible medium—mirrors the story's theme of dissemination and interpretation. The Bible's narrative becomes physically impressed into material. Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Thank you! Curator: Likewise. Analyzing the labor embedded transforms our understanding.