Artwork
Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob
Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob is an ink print by the Baroque artist Rembrandt. It dates from 1633 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joseph’s Coat Brought to Jacob is a print created by Rembrandt van Rijn around 1633. Executed as an etching with added dry‑point work, the image depicts a man clutching a blood‑stained coat while several figures surround him. The composition is dominated by strong chiaroscuro, with a narrow beam of light illuminating faces and fabric against a predominantly dark background.
Subject & Meaning
The scene illustrates the biblical episode in which Joseph’s brothers present his blood‑soaked coat to their father Jacob, announcing Joseph’s presumed death. The tense expressions and the stark contrast of light suggest the shock and grief of the moment, emphasizing the narrative’s themes of loss, deception, and familial tragedy.
Technique & Style
Rembrandt employed traditional etching, incising lines into a copper plate and using acid to hold ink, then enhanced the image with dry‑point, pressing the needle directly into the metal. This combination produces both crisp, sketch‑like lines and softer, velvety edges where the dry‑point burr retains extra ink, creating a hazy atmosphere around the figures.
History & Provenance
The work dates to the early 1630s, a period when Rembrandt was establishing his reputation in Amsterdam. It is known from several impressions held in museum collections, indicating that the plate was printed in limited numbers before being withdrawn from further production, a common practice for the artist’s prints of that era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), known mononymously as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and draughtsman.
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