Jozef in de gevangenis met de bakker en de schenker 1572

This engraving by Pieter Jalhea Furnius, made around 1600, depicts Joseph in prison interpreting the dreams of his fellow inmates. The most striking images are the ethereal visions behind Joseph; the baker carrying bread for the birds and the cupbearer holding a flagon, symbols of their dreams and fates. Consider the cupbearer's flagon; a seemingly simple object. Yet, across time, the act of pouring and sharing from a vessel carries profound cultural weight. We see it echoed in ancient rituals of libation, medieval feasts, and even modern-day communion. The vessel is more than a container; it's a conduit for connection and destiny. It reappears in countless forms, each subtly altered by its historical context. There is a haunting quality to this scene of imprisonment, that touches upon the collective unconscious. Furnius captured not just a biblical story, but a timeless representation of human hope and despair.