Abraham sending away Hagar and Ishmael: Abraham holds forth a vessel as Hagar and Ishmael stride before him, from the series 'The Story of Abraham' 1543

This engraving by Georg Pencz from the series 'The Story of Abraham' captures the moment Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. Observe how Abraham bestows a vessel upon Hagar, a poignant symbol of provision and abandonment. The vessel, a seemingly simple object, carries echoes of ancient libation rituals. We can find it in the votive offerings to deities across cultures. Yet here, it is repurposed, transformed into a symbol of both hope and despair. Hagar's tearful countenance and Ishmael’s bow hint at their uncertain future, a visual lament mirrored in countless depictions of expulsion and exodus. This scene taps into our collective memory of loss and displacement, resonating with the primal fear of being cast out. Like a recurring dream, this iconography resurfaces throughout history, each time colored by the anxieties and aspirations of a new era. As we trace its path, we uncover the enduring power of images to evoke profound emotional responses, transcending time and culture.