Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

A superb, rich lifetime impression, with strong and pervasive drypoint burr. The delicate horizontal lines, for example in the upper right corner, are still visible in the top right quadrant, characteristic of early impressions. Trimmed to the platemarks on three sides and to the image at the top.
The identical plate size of the three prints on the theme of "Abraham and Isaac" (The New Hollstein 224, 287, and 295) suggests that Rembrandt intended to capture the story of Isaac’s suffering in a series, even though the three prints were created over a span of eleven years. The depiction refers to Genesis 18:2–10. It shows the visit and hospitality extended to the angels who announce the birth of their son to Abraham and Sarah, who can still be seen on the left in the doorframe. Abraham’s son Ishmael plays with a bow and arrow next to the front door. There is only one print state of this depiction, as the Antwerp-based painter Peter Gysels used the reverse side of the plate around 1675 for a small oil painting. The printing plate was not rediscovered and identified until 1997. – Mainly verso with tiny brown spots and pencil marks; otherwise in good condition.