Potiphar's Wife Accusing Joseph Before her Husband

The dramatic scene of Potiphar's Wife Accusing Joseph Before her Husband was captured by the Dutch Master Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) sometime between 1620 and 1669. This powerful composition is classified as a drawing, executed primarily using pen and brown ink, supplemented by the subtle tonal variations achieved through brush and brown wash. The original draft is further defined by crisp framing lines in pen and brown ink, demonstrating Rembrandt’s focus on structure and narrative intensity, even in preparatory or illustrative sketches.

The subject illustrates the emotional climax from the Book of Genesis when Potiphar's wife falsely accuses Joseph of attempted assault, showing the intense conflict between the central figures. Rembrandt skillfully uses the medium to emphasize the confrontation between the Men (Potiphar, seated as judge, and Joseph, usually shown standing or retreating) and the accusatory Women (Potiphar's wife). The narrative relies on the dynamic interaction of these figures, placed within an intimate domestic setting. The inclusion of detailed furnishings, such as the prominent Chairs, grounds the biblical drama in the visual culture of the 17th-century Dutch style, adding domestic realism to the high stakes of the moral conflict.

This exceptional drawing exemplifies Rembrandt’s renowned ability to convey narrative intensity through minimal means. His masterful handling of line and wash, creating striking effects of light and shadow, is characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age draftsman. This specific interpretation of the Potiphar narrative is preserved within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the original drawing is a unique work on paper, high-quality photographic reproductions and associated prints of Rembrandt's famous works are frequently found in the public domain, ensuring widespread access to the genius of this master.