Abraham and Isaac
1645
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Abraham and Isaac is a 1645 by Rembrandt, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows two men standing outdoors near some rocks and a tree. The older man wears a long coat and a turban, holding something small in his hand. The younger man stands close, looking down at it. Both have serious faces, and the lines around them are rough and textured. The older man’s coat has a pattern of leaves or vines, and his turban is tied tightly. The younger man’s sleeve is rolled up, showing his forearm. The artist used shading to make the figures stand out against the lighter background. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this strong contrast between light and dark works.
