Tobias geneest zijn vaders blindheid 1737 - 1792

This etching, Tobias Heals His Father’s Blindness, was created by John Greenwood in the 18th century. The composition is immediately striking. A cluster of figures converges around the seated, central figure of the elder Tobias. Greenwood’s emphasis on line and texture, achieved through etching, creates a visually rich surface. The contrast between light and shadow models the forms of each individual, and is especially dramatic near the window. The narrative unfolds through gestures and gazes. The diagonal lines direct our eyes from the window to the seated figure, guiding our reading of the scene. The structural organization of the image supports its narrative content. By emphasizing the formal elements of Greenwood’s etching we come to a deeper appreciation of its aesthetic and cultural complexity.