Jozef en de vrouw van Potifar 1824 - 1856

Julien-Léopold Boilly created this print, Jozef en de vrouw van Potifar, using an engraving technique. The artwork presents a scene dominated by a stark interplay of light and shadow, immediately drawing our attention to the figures locked in an embrace at its center. The formal arrangement sees the figures offset against a dark backdrop. This contrast throws into sharp relief the struggle between the two protagonists, heightening the dramatic tension. The artist's calculated use of chiaroscuro manipulates the surface, creating an emotionally charged and dynamic interaction. Boilly’s work can be interpreted through the lens of semiotics, examining the symbolic values attached to themes of temptation, power, and resistance. The visual structure of the composition seems to undermine conventional narratives of virtue and vice, presenting a more nuanced commentary on desire and moral conflict. The balance of tonal contrasts and carefully constructed composition challenge our engagement with the subject matter, extending an invitation to question and reinterpret.