Abraham Casting out Hagar and Ishmael
Original title: Abraham Casting out Hagar and Ishmael
kurzbeschreibung
Abraham sends Hagar and his son Ishmael away. Rembrandt captured this biblical event in a 1637 etching with touches of drypoint. The sheet measures about 13.3 x 10 cm.
Description
In the foreground stands Abraham, wearing a fur-trimmed robe and a turban, his gaze turned to the left; his hand gesture suggests the farewell. Hagar has taken a seat on a bench in the background, with Ishmael standing beside her—both plainly dressed. On the left, a dog lies on a bench, also looking left. Architecture of columns and arches in the background points to ancient or Islamic building forms. In the upper right, the signature and the year 1637 can be made out.
Context
This etching was made in Amsterdam in 1637, during a period when Rembrandt was deeply engaged with biblical subjects. The story comes from the Old Testament (Genesis 21): at Sarah's urging, Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the wilderness. Rembrandt was known as an artist who grasped biblical stories with psychological insight.
Impact
Precise lines and strong contrasts of light and dark carry the emotional tension of the moment. The figures gain liveliness and make the painful farewell tangible.
Technique
The etching, supplemented with touches of drypoint, produces fine, exact lines and soft transitions. This process allows detailed shading and a high degree of expressiveness.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)