Abraham verdrijft Hagar en Ismaël 1822 - 1902

Albert Henry Payne created this print, "Abraham expels Hagar and Ishmael," sometime in the 19th century. The composition is structured by stark contrasts of light and shadow, creating a dramatic scene. The eye is drawn to the figures of Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael, positioned at the threshold of a building. Abraham gestures outwards, his form partially in shadow. Hagar recoils, a gesture echoed in the twisting of her body, while Ishmael clings to her, anchoring her to the scene. The artist uses line and form to convey the emotional tension of the moment: the sharp lines of Abraham's beard contrast with the soft curves of Hagar's figure. Consider how Payne uses the semiotic system of posture and gesture. Abraham’s commanding stance signifies authority, while Hagar’s retreating posture suggests vulnerability and displacement. In this way, the artist's work invites us to reflect on themes of power, exile, and familial conflict. The print remains a site of ongoing cultural interpretation.