Joseph telling his Dreams
Rembrandt's 1638 etching depicts the biblical moment when Joseph recounts his prophetic dreams to his family, a subject that allowed the artist to explore narrative drama and psychological tension through carefully orchestrated gestures and expressions. This impression represents the sixth and final state of the composition, later reworked and printed by the Basan workshop after Rembrandt's death, reflecting the continued commercial value of his plates. The small scale of the print, measuring just over four inches in height, demonstrates Rembrandt's mastery of intimate narrative within a compact format, using precise lines and subtle tonal variations to convey emotional intensity.
- Medium
- Etching, 1638, but a later impression of New Hollstein's sixth state (of six), platemark 109 x 82 mm (4 1/4 x 3 1/4 in), sheet 116 x 87 mm (4 1/2 x 3 3/8 in), (unframed), Literature:, Bartsch 37; New Hollstein 167, Together with three other Rembrandt etchings, including The strolling Musicians (NH 141 iii/iii), Self-Portrait etching at a Window (NH 240 ix/ix), and Reclining female Nude ('La negresse couchée') (NH 308 vi/vi), all reworked by the Basan workshop and printed posthumously, all final
- Spotted At
- Auction House · Forum Auctions
🔨 Auction Lot
Prints & Works on Paper 1500-2026
March 31, 2026
Lot 302
Start the Discussion
Request access to join the discussion