Tobit en Anna met het bokje 1645 - 1646

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut, "Tobit and Anna with the Kid," sometime before his death in 1658. The tight composition focuses on the domestic space occupied by the figures. The linear patterns of Sichem's woodcut define every form, from the wrinkles on the faces of Tobit and Anna to the thatched roof above them. These dense parallel lines create a rich visual texture and a stark contrast between light and shadow, thus animating the scene. The figures of Tobit and Anna are frozen in a moment of tension, divided by the vertical form of the goat. The dramatic gestures and exaggerated expressions, rendered with sharp, unwavering lines, highlight the narrative's emotional intensity. This approach asks us to consider how the graphic structure not only depicts the scene but also shapes our interpretation of the story's underlying emotional and moral dimensions. Through this method Sichem transforms the biblical narrative into a study of form, line, and the power of visual storytelling.