De verstoting van Hagar after 1646

Moyses van Wtenbrouck created this etching, "The expulsion of Hagar", in the 17th century. The composition pulls us into a scene where line and form communicate deep emotions. The architecture on the left is in tonal contrast to the landscape on the right. Van Wtenbrouck has used line and tonal variation to distinguish between the figures and the landscape. In the foreground, Abraham gestures to Hagar and Ishmael, directing them away from the house. This tableau is carefully constructed, with the figures arranged to convey a sense of sorrow and abandonment. By using these elements, Van Wtenbrouck not only tells a story but also invites us to think about the social structures that inform human experiences. This image, therefore, serves as a compelling example of how art can destabilize established meanings. It compels ongoing interpretation.