Abraham verstoot Hagar en Ismaël after 1637

Maria Boortens made this etching depicting 'Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael' in the Netherlands in the 17th century. The scene is charged with social and religious tensions. Abraham, a patriarch figure, is shown banishing Hagar, his concubine, and their son Ishmael. This references the biblical narrative, but also reflects the socio-political climate of the Dutch Golden Age. Boortens, a female artist, appropriates a subject that was typically the domain of male artists. Her decision to depict the vulnerability of Hagar and Ishmael could be read as a commentary on the patriarchal structures of 17th-century Dutch society. The attention to domestic detail and emotional nuance offers a counterpoint to more heroic or idealized depictions of biblical stories. To understand this print better, we can consult religious texts, social histories of the Netherlands, and feminist art criticism. This allows us to appreciate how Boortens engages with, and potentially challenges, the social norms of her time.