Jozef door zijn broers in de put gegooid Possibly 1630 - 1702

Curator: This engraving, "Jozef door zijn broers in de put gegooid," depicts Joseph cast into the pit by his brothers. It's attributed to an anonymous artist and dates probably from 1630 to 1702. You can find it here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Right away, it's so theatrical, isn't it? The deep shadows contrasting with these bright, almost frantic figures looming over this dark abyss. There is just something intensely ominous here. It looks less like siblings roughhousing and more like some twisted ritual is underway. Curator: Yes, it really captures the tension of the biblical narrative. Look at the faces—you can see a mix of envy, resentment, and even a bit of reluctance, maybe, amongst some of the brothers. And Joseph—he looks so vulnerable and helpless. This really leans into that dynamic of sibling rivalry. Editor: Helpless indeed! Thrown into a seemingly bottomless well by the very people meant to be his protectors—if that isn't a metaphor for familial dysfunction, I don’t know what is. Plus, the landscape isn't just background; those jagged mountains and dense, dark trees feel like they're in on the secret, echoing the brothers’ treachery. Creepy! Curator: Absolutely. And the choice of an engraving as the medium really shapes how we interpret it, right? This print would have been reproduced and circulated widely. It brings biblical narratives to the broader populace and reinforces moral lessons about jealousy and forgiveness, all through accessible visual language. Editor: Right! And seeing that text beneath…it kind of frames it all, doesn't it? As if the picture needs a backup explanation. Makes you wonder about the viewer back then; did they get all the feels from just the image alone? Now, it's like we're double-checking with SparkNotes! Curator: That's such an important point, though, about different interpretive frames. And for me it really draws our attention to what has shifted – our understanding and access. Editor: Yeah! From the perspective of today…this engraving kind of slaps you awake. Forces you to remember those age-old family feuds and how easily people can screw each other over, all with a fancy biblical backstory. So dark… and yet compellingly executed!