Tobias and the Angel Taking Leave of Raguel c. 1650 - 1655

This etching by Rembrandt van Rijn depicts a scene from the biblical story of Tobias, a young man sent on a journey by his father to retrieve his inheritance. As Tobias and the angel Raphael, disguised as a man, prepare to depart, Tobias’s future father-in-law, Raguel, along with his wife and daughter stand beside him. The light, expressive strokes used by Rembrandt create a sense of movement and urgency as Tobias, guided by the angel, begins his new adventure. The etching was likely created as a preparatory study for a larger painting, and it exemplifies Rembrandt’s skill in capturing the drama and emotion of a biblical narrative.