Jozef legt aan Jakob zijn tweede droom uit

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso onder, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Jozef legt aan zijn tweede droom uit** (Joseph Explains His Second Dream to Jacob an engraving by Dutch artist Nicolaes de Bru from 1628, captures pivotal biblical moment from Genesis 37. In the scene, young Joseph recounts his prophetic dream—where the sun, moon, eleven stars bow to him—to father Jacob and brothers, foreshadowing his rise to power in Egypt. De Bruyn, a prolific engraver active in Antwerp the early Baroque period, specialized in reproductive prints that brought religious narratives to a wide audience, blending intricate detail with dramatic storytelling. Crafted as an engraving measuring 175 × 253 mm, this work exemplifies the technical mastery of intaglio printing, where lines incised into a metal plate hold ink to produce rich, tonal contrasts. Popular in the Dutch Golden Age, such prints democratized art, allowing collectors across Europe to own affordable yet sophisticated images of scripture. The verso bears a collector's mark (Lugt 2228), a stamped emblem signaling its esteemed provenance and survival through centuries of appreciation. This piece highlights the enduring cultural role of biblical art in 17th-century Northern Europe, where engravings like de Bruyn's educated and inspired the faithful while showcasing virtuoso craftsmanship. A gem for print enthusiasts, it invites us to ponder dreams, destiny, and family dynamics through a masterful lens.

About the Artist

Nicolaes de Bruyn · 1571–1656

Nicolaes de Bruyn was a Flemish printmaker born in Antwerp in 1571, active during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries and known primarily for his large, elaborately detailed engravings of landscapes, hunting scenes, and biblical and mythological subjects. He trained in the tradition of Flemish reproductive engraving and was deeply influenced by the work of his contemporaries and pre...