Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers

Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers

Gerard de Lairesse

1676

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This engraving shows a dramatic scene with a group of men in flowing robes. One man stands tall, pointing at another who kneels in shock, surrounded by others who react with fear or confusion. The background has grand columns and statues, while the floor has scattered objects like a broken bowl and a dog. The text at the bottom hints this is a biblical story—Joseph confronting his brothers after years apart. The artist used shading to create depth and movement, typical of the time. Check out etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.

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