Abraham Dismissing Hagar c. 17th century

Curator: The drama is palpable. You can almost hear the sobs in this print. Editor: That's right. We're looking at Charles Macé's engraving, "Abraham Dismissing Hagar." It depicts the biblical scene of Abraham casting out Hagar and their son, Ishmael. The plate measures about 32 by 46 centimeters and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Curator: The angel looming over Hagar seems to represent divine intervention, or perhaps just the weight of her fate. Angels often bridge the earthly and divine realms, so here the sense is that the spiritual world has forced Abraham's hand. Editor: And Abraham's stance, so imposing, almost theatrical. The figures, the architectural background... they borrow heavily from classical art. It is a real statement about power and destiny. Curator: The etching feels intensely personal though, almost a confession. The angel's looming presence, the raw emotion on Hagar's face—Macé captures the tragedy with a tenderness that transcends the subject matter. Editor: It's a poignant reminder that some stories, even those etched in history, retain their emotional resonance.