Isaks ofring 1907

Oluf Hartmann made this small etching, of what looks like a very big subject, sometime between 1879 and 1910. Hartmann used line to create value and form, and it feels like a struggle. There’s a tension between control and chaos which makes the scene even more dramatic. I feel for him because he's picked a hell of a subject to depict with such limited means! I mean, how do you convey such a difficult subject – faith, obedience, sacrifice – with a few etched lines? It’s almost absurd. Abraham's heavy beard and the sharp glint of the knife contrast with Isaac's smooth face, which suggests vulnerability and youth. Both figures are enveloped in the inky darkness of the background, which adds a layer of drama and psychological tension. I think that Hartmann, like many artists, was wrestling with these fundamental questions of existence. It’s like he’s saying, 'Here's what I think, but I’m not sure, and maybe you can help me figure it out.' And that’s what makes art so powerful.