Jozef geeft opdracht het graan op te slaan en Jozefs broers vertellen Jakob dat Jozef leeft 1683 - 1733

Curator: Looking at this engraving, the first thing that strikes me is the almost cartoonish drama of the figures. They're practically bursting out of the frame! Editor: Indeed! This print by Bernard Picart, dating from 1683-1733, housed right here at the Rijksmuseum, depicts two scenes from the biblical story of Joseph. On one side, Joseph, in his position of power, commands the storage of grain. And on the other, his brothers reveal to Jacob that Joseph is alive. It’s titled “Jozef geeft opdracht het graan op te slaan en Jozefs broers vertellen Jakob dat Jozef leeft." Curator: Right, it’s like a split screen of ancient emotions. I love how he crams all this complex narrative into one little space! The two cherubs at either end with the strange little shellfish are just the best bizarre embellishment I've seen all week! Editor: Precisely. Picart’s use of line here is key. Note the fineness and precision, especially in the details of the figures’ clothing and the architectural elements. The engraver's line work creates a sense of depth and texture. And consider that oval frame! Its ornamental flourishes contribute significantly to the work's Baroque aesthetic. Curator: I think the cherubic crab handlers might actually upstage the actual narrative in this particular telling, but in terms of compositional tension—that interplay between chaos and resolution that defines Baroque art—I’m into it. The gestures are everything! It just needs a modern colorist’s bold palette to send it over the moon! Editor: That might be a bit much, even for Baroque. But if we stick with semiotics, that crab detail becomes very potent! Overall, Picart’s command of narrative through formal composition really shines, giving this artwork enduring historical weight, while providing a feast for the eyes. Curator: Yeah, seeing such big biblical feelings expressed through these tiny little engraved lines...it's kind of adorable and awe-inspiring all at once, in a typically and delightfully over-the-top fashion. Editor: A solid insight—I think we can leave our listeners contemplating its complexities now.