Joseph in Prison Interpreting the Dreams of the Butler and the Baker, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1650 - c. 1655
pen and brown ink, with opaque white; framing line in brown ink, h 157mm × w 189mm Catalogue entry
Joseph was imprisoned thanks to Potiphar’s wife. There he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker, fellow inmates. He tells the butler, who listens in amazement, that within three days he will be returned to his job. With his fingers, Joseph counts the days until his release. The standing baker – whose dream means that he will be hanged within three days – has yet to hear his fate.
