The angel departing from the family of Tobias 1641

Rembrandt van Rijn's etching "The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias" (1641) is a dramatic scene from the biblical Book of Tobit. The etching captures the moment when the angel Raphael reveals his true identity and ascends to heaven. Rembrandt’s mastery of light and shadow creates a sense of awe and wonder as the angel disappears in a cloud of light, leaving Tobias, his wife, and his father in a state of awe. The etching’s composition is dynamic, with the figures arranged in a diagonal line that leads the viewer’s eye towards the ascending angel. This work is a masterful example of Rembrandt’s use of etching to create dramatic and evocative scenes.