Gods verbond met Abraham

About this artwork

Terwijl hij slaapt krijgt Abraham een visioen. Hij ziet een oven waar rook uitkomt en een brandende fakkel, die tussen de neergelegde dierhelften doorgaat, ten teken van Gods verbond met hem. Onderaan in de marge een verwijzing naar de Bijbeltekst en de titel in het Hebreeuws, Engels, Duits, Latijn, Frans en Nederlands.

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Joseph Mulder, created between 1720 and 1728, portrays a key biblical vision from Genesis 15. While Abraham sleeps, he witnesses smoking oven and a burning torch passing between the halves of sacrificed animals—a powerful sign of God’s covenant. The composition emphasizes the mystical and solemn nature of this divine encounter. Mulder’s engraving technique captures fine details of light, smoke, and ritual elements, making the scene vivid and accessible. The print includes the title and a biblical reference in six languages—Hebrew, English, German, Latin, French, and Dutch—reflecting its purpose for a wide European audience in the early eighteenth century. As a reproductive medium, engravings like this helped spread religious stories and artistic interpretations across borders. At 358 mm by 220 mm, the work blends faith, scholarship, and visual storytelling typical of its time.

About the Artist

Joseph Mulder · 1659–1718

Joseph Mulder (1659/1660–1710 or later) was a renowned Dutch Golden Age printmaker whose work exemplifies the sophisticated reproductive engraving practiced in Amsterdam during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Trained under notable masters including Bogaert and influenced by Romeyn de Hooghe, Mulder achieved particular distinction for his scientific illustrations, most notably ...