Rembrandt's 1633 grisaille, "Joseph Telling his Dreams," is an oil sketch characterized by a stark, monochromatic palette of earthy browns and greys. A strong, almost theatrical light source dramatically illuminates Joseph, dressed in lighter tones, as he recounts his prophetic visions to his family. His parents and brothers, mostly in shadow, clearly convey their skepticism through their poses and facial expressions. Rembrandt used loose brushstrokes to quickly capture the scene, creating a powerful contrast between light and dark. This preparatory study for a large print, which was never executed