The artwork titled “Joseph being seventeen years old, goes with his brothers and the flocks (Genesis XXXVII, 2)” was created by Marc Chagall around the year 1956 in France. This piece is an etching on paper, measuring 30.5 x 24 cm, and belongs to the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement. It is part of a series titled “Etchings for the Bible,” which spans from 1930-1939 and 1952-1956. The genre of this artwork is religious painting.
The etching depicts a young Joseph, characterized as being seventeen years old, as described in the Biblical book of Genesis. Joseph is seen standing, holding a shepherd’s staff in one hand, with a calm and composed demeanor. He is draped in a simple garment, with the suggestion of a flock in the background, highlighting his pastoral duties. A sheep is prominently featured beside him, reinforcing his role as a shepherd. The artwork employs a simplistic and primal style, typical of Naïve Art, with bold lines and minimal detail, which emphasize the central figure’s significance and the narrative’s essence.
