Two Studies for Blind Tobit
Original title: Two Studies for Blind Tobit
kurzbeschreibung
Drawn around 1651 in Rembrandt's workshop, this sheet presents two studies of the blind Tobit. Two men stand before a house. The drawing is executed in pen and brown inks with a grayish brown wash, and measures 21 x 26.1 cm.
Description
Two figures appear before a building. The older man on the left wears a head covering, leans on a staff, and raises his other hand in a gesture. To the right stands the younger man with crossed arms, his gaze turned toward the older one. Another house and trees close off the background. The encounter feels quiet and everyday.
Context
The sheet is regarded as a work from Rembrandt's circle, suggesting it was made in Amsterdam. The motif of the blind Tobit comes from the Book of Tobit and appears often in seventeenth-century Dutch art. The dating around 1651 rests on stylistic comparisons with other works from Rembrandt's workshop.
Impact
The sepia tones give the sheet a historical note and a quiet melancholy. The calm, everyday scene feels intimate; attention settles on the interaction between the two figures.
Technique
The drawing was executed with pen and brown inks, supplemented by a grayish brown wash. The thin, detailed strokes point to careful execution.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)