He Fell On His Neck And Wept On His Neck A Good While, Gen. XLVI. 29.

Description

This engraving depicts the scene described in Genesis, Chapter 46, Verse 29 of the Old Testament, where Joseph is reunited with his father Jacob after many years. Betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, Joseph, by God's wisdom, rose to rule Egypt in the name of Pharaoh. During the years of famine, he summoned his family to his side, providing them with both bread and a safe haven. Joseph and his family traveled to Goshen to welcome his father Jacob back to Egypt. Jacob's prolonged embrace of Joseph and weeping is not merely a reunion between father and son, but also a restoration of the lost and the fulfillment of God's promise. The engraving possesses a dramatic intensity. The embrace of Joseph and Jacob in the center, the figures' body language and the use of light and shadow, powerfully convey the joy and depth of the reunion to the viewer. The figures of the woman and child on the right add family unity to the scene, while the soldiers, horsemen, and servants on the left enrich the majesty and historical context of this reunion.