De verstoting van Hagar after 1620

Moyses van Wtenbrouck created this etching, ‘The Dismissal of Hagar,’ during the Dutch Golden Age. Notice the stark contrast achieved through fine, detailed lines. This creates a dramatic scene filled with emotional tension. The composition is structured around a clear division, where the architectural elements on the left are balanced against the natural landscape on the right. This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between order and nature, culture and wilderness, reflecting broader concerns of the period. The artist uses the receding landscape to enhance depth, drawing our eye to the figures at the center. Their gestures and expressions, rendered with meticulous detail, convey the emotional weight of the narrative. The print functions as more than just an illustration; it encapsulates the cultural and philosophical tensions inherent in representations of biblical stories. It invites us to reflect on the meanings and values that continue to evolve through artistic interpretation.