Eliëzer belooft dat hij een vrouw voor Isaak zal vinden 1549

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this engraving, now at the Rijksmuseum, using a dense network of lines to depict a biblical scene. The composition centers on three figures arranged in a pyramidal form. The seated figure on the left anchors the scene with a dramatic gesture, balanced by the kneeling figure to the right, while the standing figure fills the central space. Coornhert employs hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of depth and texture, particularly in the drapery and the beards of the figures. The contrast between light and shadow directs our attention to the key interactions, emphasizing the solemnity of the oath being sworn. The lines not only define form but also evoke a sense of movement and emotion. Here, form serves to convey the gravity of the moment. The artist invites us to consider the interplay between the physical representation and the narrative content, asking how the structure of the image reinforces the themes of duty, promise, and divine will. This engraving, therefore, is not just a depiction of a biblical event, but an exploration of the power of form to convey meaning.