Who painted Abraham Casting Out Hagar?

Abraham Casting Out Hagar was painted by Jacob Matham in 1603.

Where can I see Abraham Casting Out Hagar?

Abraham Casting Out Hagar is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Abraham Casting Out Hagar?

Abraham Casting Out Hagar is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Abraham Casting Out Hagar

Jacob Matham , 1603

Abraham Casting Out Hagar is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jacob Matham. It dates from 1603 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Matham’s 1603 engraving, titled Abraham Casting Out Hagar, presents a dramatic biblical tableau rendered on laid paper. The composition captures the moment Abraham drives Hagar and her son Ishmael away from the settlement, emphasizing tension through stark line work and a stark, collapsing dwelling in the background.

Subject & Meaning

The image interprets Genesis 21, where Abraham, obeying divine command, expels Hagar and her child. Matham emphasizes the emotional weight of exile: the woman shields her face, the infant clings to her, while Abraham gestures toward the wilderness, underscoring themes of obedience, displacement, and survival.

Technique & Style

Executed with fine, cross‑hatching, the engraving relies on dense lines to model shadow and texture, from the bark of a nearby tree to the folds of clothing. The stark contrast of dark outlines against the white paper creates depth, while the precise rendering of architectural ruin and scattered tools adds narrative detail.

History & Provenance

Created in the early seventeenth century, the print reflects the Dutch tradition of reproductive engraving, where Matham often interpreted biblical subjects for a broad audience. Surviving copies are held in several European print collections, indicating its circulation among collectors of religious imagery during the period.