Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1650
pen and brown ink, some areas deliberately rubbed with a finger or wet brush; framing line in brown ink, h 171mm × w 224mm Catalogue entry
Rembrandt here chose to depict a restrained version of the expulsion of Hagar. Under the watchful eye of the embittered Sarah and the young Isaac, Hagar leans her head on Abraham’s shoulder in quiet resignation. With an expression betraying his inner anguish, Abraham looks at the son from whom he is forced to part. Even the little dog hangs its head.
