Engel verlaat de familie van Tobit 1640 - 1645

Ferdinand Bol created this pen and brown ink drawing, “Engel verlaat de familie van Tobit,” in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The scene depicts a moment from the Book of Tobit, a deuterocanonical text in which an angel reveals his divine nature before departing a human family. Bol, a student of Rembrandt, situates us within the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by both religious fervor and burgeoning mercantile capitalism. The sketch-like quality allows us to consider the role of the artist and the academy. Unlike the highly finished works prized by the French Academy, Dutch art emphasized the artist’s individual skill and unique vision. Bol’s loose lines and dramatic shading capture the emotional intensity of the scene, emphasizing the angel’s departure. Art historians consult inventories, biographies, and other archival sources to better understand the conditions that shape artistic production. By examining the social context, we see art not as an isolated object, but as a reflection of broader cultural values.