Artwork
Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1637 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1637, the work titled Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream is attributed to the artist known as 1857_person.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1637, the work titled Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream is attributed to the artist known as 1857_person. The oil painting is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it is displayed as an example of early‑modern narrative art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition portrays a biblical episode in which Joseph, a figure from the Hebrew scriptures, is engaged in interpreting a dream for the Egyptian ruler. Five male figures occupy the scene; the pharaoh sits on a throne, crowned and clothed in a blue robe, while the remaining men wear garments of differing hues, suggesting a courtly audience.
Technique & Style
The painter employs a varied palette to model space, using light and shadow to suggest depth. A pronounced chiaroscuro effect creates contrast between illuminated figures and darker background elements, enhancing the dramatic atmosphere of the interior setting, which includes a window that opens onto an exterior landscape.
History & Provenance
Although the precise circumstances of its commission are unknown, the painting dates to the mid‑17th century and has been housed in the Museum of Ethnography for an extended period. Its attribution to 1857_person reflects scholarly consensus based on stylistic analysis and archival records.
Artist & collection


















