Abraham and Isaac
Rembrandt
1634 Amsterdam, Netherlands
During the Baroque period art was being used by the Catholic Church to counter the Reformation. The Council of Trent promoted the use of art to depict Biblical stories to makes them easy to understand and accessible. This would allow the messages of the Church to reach the people easily, as opposed to reading scriptures in latin and other such inconveniences that Martin Luther had complained kept the word of God from being known to the common man.
In this particular painting by Rembrandt the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac is depicted. As a test of faith God asked Abraham to take his son and make a sacrifice out of him. Just before he took his son’s life, an angel appeared to Abraham and stopped him from killing his son. The angel informed Abraham that he had passed a test of faith. He had been willing to give up what was most precious to him because the Lord asked it of him.
I like this piece because it has a story behind it. Also aesthetically speaking it is interesting how Isaac appears to be much brighter than the rest of the painting as if the light of Heaven is shining down on him. It also appears that he has not struggled, although I don’t recall him being aware of what was going on, as if he is entirely prepared to give his life up for God. Another interesting characteristic of the painting is that the Angel is not the classical image of an angel I think of. Feel free to discuss why Isaac is so bright and willing and why the angel is so untraditional.
I love dark art and this painting shows lots of emotion for both Abraham and Isaac. You do have a point with Isaac being more shiny then the rest and what I think why is that Isaac was the main subject in this story. This painting kind of looks like a remake of what happened and the angel looks more darker than he should so it kind of symbolizes that maybe God had other intentions.
I appreciate that you provided the factual information as a list before your main post. It looks very organized and it’s nice to have that information immediately available.
I’m not sure Abraham and Isaac is the best example of Counter Reformation art. It is uncertain as to whether Rembrandt was even catholic. His father was Protestant and his mother was Catholic; however, he hasn’t been definitively linked to either church. Perhaps you could provide a References section so we might review your information source?
I do agree that the piece is quite moving. Perhaps Isaac is so brightly depicted because God was looking down on him, protecting him? I have heard versions of the story where Isaac asks his father Abraham to bind him so he cannot struggle or run away out of fear. So perhaps it is also devotion on Isaac’s part that is being depicted through light? The angel seems fairly commonly depicted to me; a winged, beautiful and slightly androgynous figure.
Looking through this painting and the explanation, I got a lot of good information. I like how organized it is information about the painting, connecting it to one of the influences, explaining the painting, your view on the work, then finally ask us to think about it.
At first glance I’m not incredibly sure what is happening and can’t really can’t connect it to the church, because I have never heard the story until now. After reading the explanation the piece is more interesting, because there is a story that goes with it.
I think this is a very moving piece. Looking at it first I’m drawn to Isaac, because of how bright he is compared to everything else in the piece. Then looking at it some more I look at how Abraham is completely covering Isaac’s face the way he is, to the point were you can’t see his face at all. Then the angel simply because it looks so dark, when I think of angels, they seem more bright.
I think that your blog about this painting was very well thought out. Your research was very evident. If you look at this painting without knowing the meaning behind it, you are very reluctant to appreciate it. Now that the story behind the painting is clear, it is much easier to fully appreciate it.
After reading your blog, I find this piece very interesting. The fact that the light does shine upon the man, Isaac, is definitely something to think about. I agree with your interpretation that this could perhaps be the light shining down from above, however it could also just be a painting technique.
The angel doesn’t look atypical to me at all. In fact it looks very much like the angle that adorned our family’s nativity set.