Abraham's Sacrifice

Abraham’s Sacrifice is a powerful print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1655. This work exemplifies the artist's late style in printmaking, combining the fine line work of etching with the rich, velvety blacks achieved through the use of drypoint. The piece dramatically illustrates the biblical narrative from Genesis 22, where Abraham is commanded by God to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, a pivotal story in Judeo-Christian history.

Rembrandt focuses the viewer's attention on the climax of the narrative, just before the covenant is broken. Abraham, positioned centrally and heavily shadowed, is shown in the act of raising the sacrificial knife, moments before divine intervention. A swift-moving Angel swoops down from the upper corner, grasping Abraham's wrist to halt the execution and providing the necessary relief and narrative tension. This contrast between the intense human drama of the patriarch and the swiftness of divine grace is typical of the Baroque period, capturing movement and high emotional stakes in a single, focused moment.

As one of the most prolific and innovative printmakers of the 17th century, Rembrandt utilized the etching medium not only to explore complex theological themes but also to distribute his interpretations widely across Europe. He frequently returned to Old Testament subjects, finding ample opportunity to study light, shadow, and psychology. The original impression of this masterful etching and drypoint resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Because of its age and artistic significance, high-quality prints and archival images of this work are frequently made available through public domain archives, allowing students worldwide to study Rembrandt’s unparalleled mastery of light and line.