Lucas van Leyden 1494 – Leiden – 1533 Joseph Interpreting his Dreams to Jacob

Woodcut on laid paper with watermark “Gothic P” (cf. New Hollstein, Gothic P, p. 285, 1b). (c. 1514). 38.1 x 29 cm (sheet).

Period

15th-18th Century

Technique

Prints

Details

Bartsch VII, 441, Nr. 12; Hollstein 21; The New Hollstein 179 a (von c).

Description

A very fine, strong impression of this very scarce woodcut from the series: The Great Power of Women. The series is one of the highlights of the woodcuts in the artist’s oeuvre, which depict the influence of women on men, from Adam to Solomon to Virgil. They are comparable to Albrecht Dürer’s best works in terms of execution and ambition. Trimmed just outside the borderline, which has been partially redrawn. – Paper somewhat stained, horizontal centrefold, this with carefully repaired tears and fine retouches, repaired and partially retouched marginal defects. The upper right corner replaced. Minor repairs in the image. An approx. 8 mm wide strip added along the lower margin, otherwise still in good condition.
Prints from this series are extremely rare. New Hollstein lists only seven early impressions of this image in public collections.