Tobias and the angel after 1606

Willem Pietersz. Buytewech created this drawing of "Tobias and the Angel" with pen and brown ink. The sepia tones lend the scene a feeling of looking into the past, as if we are viewing a fond memory or a page from an ancient book. The composition is structured around contrasts. Notice how the dilapidated architecture with its crumbling walls and overgrown vegetation is juxtaposed with the smooth, ascending steps. This dichotomy creates a visual tension that speaks to themes of decay and renewal. The figures of Tobias and the angel are small, yet they command our attention. They are purposefully positioned on the steps, suggesting movement and transition. The angel seems to guide Tobias upwards, further reinforcing the drawing's narrative and symbolic depth. Buytewech masterfully uses line and shadow to construct space. This formal element serves not only to depict depth but also to lead the viewer's eye through the scene, inviting us to contemplate the themes of guidance, passage, and the ever-present tension between decay and hope.