Joseph and Potiphar's Wife c. 1840

Curator: Eugène Delacroix, born in 1798, captured this Old Testament scene, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife, in a drawing of about 8 by 9 inches, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. What's your initial reaction? Editor: The raw, almost frantic energy leaps out. It’s a story etched in haste, full of dramatic tension—the kind that makes you question everyone's motives. Curator: Indeed! The scene depicts the moment Potiphar’s wife accuses Joseph of assault after he flees from her advances. Delacroix's frantic lines really amplify the turmoil of the moment, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely, you can sense a deeper meditation here on betrayal and the unreliable narratives of desire. It's like Delacroix is asking, "Who are we to believe?"—a question as old as time itself. Curator: The use of line, so spare, yet so effective, leaves me wondering what Delacroix ultimately thought about their plight. Editor: Ultimately, I feel the piece encapsulates the power struggle inherent in skewed perceptions. It's about the stories we tell ourselves and each other.