Joseph's Coat Brought To Jacob, This Have We Found: Know Now Whether It Be Thy Son's Coat Or No, Gen. XXXVII. 32.

Description

This engraving depicts the dramatic scene described in Chapter 37, Verse 32 of Genesis, the Old Testament book of the Bible, depicting Joseph's bloodstained shirt being brought to their father Jacob by his brothers. The brothers, jealously throwing Joseph into a well and then selling him into slavery, then, to conceal the truth, stained his shirt with blood and brought it to their father, convincing him that the beasts had killed him. Jacob's sorrowful posture, covering his face with his hands, in the engraving reflects the indescribable pain of a father's heart and the profound grief felt for his lost son. However, this event is also part of God's divine plan. This seemingly catastrophic event would ultimately lead to Joseph's rise to exalted status in Egypt and the salvation of his family. The engraving powerfully conveys the dramatic emotion. Jacob is depicted in the right corner, almost sculpturally, with his kneeling brothers on the left, creating a dynamic and dramatic composition.In particular, the way the shirt is extended forward both draws attention to the center of the stage and makes the audience feel the weight of this lie.