The Blindness of Tobit

The Blindness of Tobit, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1629, is an early print that dramatically explores the biblical narrative from the Book of Tobit. Executed using an intaglio technique on paper, this work demonstrates Rijn's developing mastery of graphic media during his formative Leiden period. Although just twenty-three years old at the time of its creation, Rijn achieves a profound emotional intensity through his economical use of line and shadow.

This piece captures the moment of Tobit's domestic tragedy, contrasting the sudden onset of blindness with the immediate reactions of his family. Unlike later, more expansive compositions, this early print focuses intensely on the emotional repercussions of the physical failure. Rijn utilizes dramatic chiaroscuro typical of the Dutch Baroque, employing strong contrasts of light and shadow to emphasize the sudden chaos and fear surrounding the protagonist. The intimate setting and deeply humanized figures characterize the artist's empathetic approach to religious subject matter during this era.

As a key example of the artist’s early explorations in printmaking, this impression of The Blindness of Tobit offers valuable insight into the development of Rijn’s visual vocabulary. The work is classified as a print, confirming its status as a piece intended for broader distribution than a unique painting. The original print is held in the comprehensive collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. As many early prints by the artist have entered the public domain, this important subject remains widely studied by scholars of 17th-century Dutch art.