The Blindness of Tobit: The Larger Plate

The Blindness of Tobit: The Larger Plate by Rembrandt van Rijn is a profound example of the artist's mastery in printmaking, executed sometime between 1646 and 1656. As an etching, this work exists in the second state of two (New Hollstein), demonstrating Rembrandt’s meticulous process of refinement on the copper plate to achieve the desired psychological and visual effect. Unlike earlier, more theatrical interpretations of biblical subjects, this piece focuses intensely on the quiet, devastating domestic drama surrounding the aged Tobit, depicted immediately after losing his sight.

Rembrandt utilized the etched line and drypoint to create deep, velvety shadows, heightening the emotional tension of the scene. The subtle interplay of light captures the disorientation of Tobit and the anxiety of his wife, Anna, who often appears in the Book of Tobit narrative as a complex, skeptical counterpoint to her pious husband. This intense focus on human vulnerability and psychological depth exemplifies why Rembrandt remains one of the most revered artists of the Dutch Golden Age. While renowned for his paintings, his extensive body of prints shows an equally sophisticated handling of line, texture, and emotional narrative, confirming his status as an undisputed master of the graphic arts.

This historically and artistically important work is held in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it serves as a crucial reference point for understanding seventeenth-century Dutch etching. Because of its historical significance and age, high-resolution images and specialized prints of this particular state are frequently made available through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars and art enthusiasts worldwide to study the subtle genius of The Blindness of Tobit: The Larger Plate.