Abraham Entertaining the Angels by Rembrandt van Rijn

Rembrandt van Rijn, Abraham Entertaining the Angels, 1656, etching and drypoint, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Rosenwald Collection 1943.3.7160

Rembrandt van Rijn, Abraham Entertaining the Angels (recto), 1656, etched copperplate with drypoint, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Ladislaus and Beatrix von Hoffman and Patrons' Permanent Fund 1997.85.1.a

Techniques

By temperament, Rembrandt was a born etcher. The etching process requires manual skill, an understanding of chemistry, the desire to experiment, and artistic vision, all of which Rembrandt had in abundance. Whether painting or making prints, his work blended aesthetic and technical innovation with exceptional insight into the human spirit. The etching medium permitted him to experiment and to create the expressive lines and rich tonal effects he sought.