"The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias," created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1641, captures a pivotal moment from the Old Testament Book of Tobit, a narrative that remained highly popular during the Dutch Golden Age. Executed primarily through the demanding processes of etching and drypoint, the work depicts the dramatic revelation of the archangel Raphael as he ascends toward heaven, leaving the astonished family behind. The composition centers on the figures of Tobias and his wife, Anna, reacting to the ascending figure, while the blind father, Tobit, collapses onto the ground in worship. Rembrandt masterfully utilizes the intimate nature of the print medium to convey intense emotion and physical drama within the familial grouping of men and women.
Rembrandt’s renowned skill in manipulating shadow and light is crucial in this piece. His use of drypoint creates deep, velvety black areas in the foreground, which contrast sharply with the luminous, divine presence of the angel. This specific impression is recognized as the eighth of nine states, demonstrating the meticulous reworkings and evolutionary refinements Rembrandt undertook on his copper plate before finalizing his prints. The intense interplay of light highlights the movement of the angel while grounding the figures of the family in their domestic space. This focus on realistic, domestic religious drama was characteristic of Rembrandt’s artistic output during the early 1640s.
As one of the most celebrated prints by the Dutch master, the visual and narrative complexity of The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias contributes significantly to Rembrandt's lasting legacy as a draftsman and printmaker. The original impression resides within the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Due to the historical and artistic significance of this image, high-quality reproductions of this work are often made available through the public domain, allowing wide study of Rembrandt's profound biblical interpretations.
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