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Rode, Christian Bernhard
Tobit and Anna with the Kid; No. 1 of a series of 2: The Story of Tobit Tobit et Anna avec le chevreau; no 1 d'une série de 2 : Le livre de Tobie
1769 1769

The German born artist Christian Bernhard Rode was a prolific eighteenth-century printmaker. Rode adapted many of the same themes and motifs across a variety of media, but was most comfortable designing works with the use of an etching needle. In 1769, he produced a pair of etchings illustrating episodes from the Book of Tobit. The first plate in the series depicts Tobit and Anna arguing over the baby goat she has brought home. Anna has received the kid from one of her employers as a form of payment for her spinning, yet Tobit accuses her of having stolen the animal. Although he is blind, Tobit points his walking stick in the direction of the goat in an accusatory manner. Anna tries to protect the innocent animal by wrapping her right arm around its neck and placing a cover over the kid’s head. Not pleased with her husband’s allegation, Anna frowns at Tobit. A large weaving stick stands between the two figures: both as a way to create distance between their opposing views on the matter and call attention to Anna’s occupation. A spinning wheel and basket of yarn are situated on the table behind Anna, further underlining her modest means of labour. The unidentified source of light that illuminates the space surrounding the figures befits the current biblical etching and adds a fiery element to the exchange between Tobit and Anna.

Rode, Christian Bernhard
Berlin, Germany 1725-Berlin, Germany 1797 Berlin, Germany 1725-Berlin, Germany 1797
Tobit and Anna with the Kid; No. 1 of a series of 2: The Story of Tobit Tobit et Anna avec le chevreau; no 1 d'une série de 2 : Le livre de Tobie
1769 1769
Etching, state 1 of 2 Eau-forte, 1er état sur 2
overall: 17.5 cm x 20 cm
Purchase, Bader Acquisition Fund, 2010 Achat, Fonds d’acquisition Bader, 2010
53-046.070

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