Abraham Caressing Isaac

"Abraham Caressing Isaac" is an exquisite etching on white laid paper created by the Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), dating from the productive period between 1632 and 1642. This work exemplifies the printmaking innovation occurring in the Netherlands during the Golden Age.

As an etching, the technique allowed Rembrandt great freedom in rendering line and shadow. The artist expertly used varying densities of line and cross-hatching to create a deep sense of atmosphere, focusing the viewer’s attention sharply on the two figures. While many of the great Biblical narratives provided subjects for his canvases, Rembrandt frequently explored these themes through the more intimate, immediate medium of prints, demonstrating his exceptional technical command over the copper plate.

The subject, drawn from the Old Testament, depicts a rare moment of profound tenderness between father and son. Unlike the dramatic tension often associated with scenes like the Sacrifice of Isaac, this composition emphasizes Abraham's paternal devotion as he cradles or comforts Isaac. Rembrandt captured the subtle psychological nuance of the scene, reflecting his enduring interest in complex human emotion and profound spiritual themes that resonated with his seventeenth-century patrons.

This important example of Dutch printmaking is housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The lasting quality and popularity of the composition ensured that many original impressions, like this one, survived the centuries. As much of Rembrandt’s extensive body of etchings and sketches are now considered public domain masterpieces, they remain crucial documents of seventeenth-century artistic life and biblical interpretation.