Artwork
Joseph Recounts His Dreams
Joseph Recounts His Dreams is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Augustin Hirschvogel. It dates from 1547 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joseph Recounts His Dreams is an etching created by Augustin Hirschvogel in 1547. The work is a black-and-white print that depicts a scene from a biblical narrative.
Subject & Meaning
The etching shows a group of men gathered around a central figure, who appears to be speaking. The scene is likely drawn from the biblical story of Joseph, as suggested by the accompanying German text. The figures are rendered in simple yet expressive forms, with gestures that convey a sense of interaction.
Technique & Style
Hirschvogel employed the etching technique, allowing ink to fill carved lines and creating sharp contrasts. The figures and sky are rendered with loose, sketchy lines, characteristic of the artist's style. The work reflects the Danube School's emphasis on detailed landscape and narrative illustration.
History & Provenance
Augustin Hirschvogel, a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer, was associated with the Danube School. He produced thirty-five small landscape etchings between 1545 and 1549, of which Joseph Recounts His Dreams is an example.
Context
The etching is a product of the 16th-century artistic movement that focused on detailed landscape and narrative illustration within the etching medium.
Artist & collection
Artist
Augustin Hirschvogel (1503 – February 1553) was a German artist, mathematician, and cartographer known primarily for his etchings.
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