The Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias 1641

Rembrandt van Rijn made this etching depicting the Angel Departing from the Family of Tobias in the Dutch Republic, sometime in the mid-17th century. The image represents a scene from the Book of Tobit, a deuterocanonical text, excluded from the Hebrew Bible, but included in the Septuagint and Christian Old Testament. Rembrandt was part of a culture in which biblical literacy was widespread, so we might assume that many of his viewers would have recognised this subject. But why did he choose this subject? As a Protestant artist in a newly formed republic, Rembrandt's choice of a Catholic-leaning text might be viewed as a commentary on the religious tensions of the time. What's more, this particular story focuses on familial piety and the rewards of faith. Perhaps Rembrandt was interested in promoting these values in a society undergoing rapid social and political change. To understand Rembrandt's choices, one could consult theological texts, historical accounts of the Dutch Republic, and of course, other artworks of the time. By placing the artwork in its specific social and institutional context, we can gain a richer understanding of its meanings and significance.