Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1465 - 1476

Martin Schongauer created this engraving, "Rest on the Flight into Egypt," in the late fifteenth century, probably in Colmar, Alsace. At this time, printmaking was a relatively new technology. Schongauer was a master of the medium, elevating its status and expanding its artistic possibilities. Note the fine, controlled lines that create a range of textures and tones, mimicking the effects of painting. The image itself reflects the religious culture of the time. We see Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus, taking refuge in a forest while fleeing persecution. Angels attend to them, offering food, while animals populate the background, seemingly at peace. The scene suggests a world where the natural order itself is disrupted by the presence of the divine. To fully understand this artwork, we might research the role of religious imagery in the late medieval period or the development of printmaking as a commercial enterprise. The meaning of this image is shaped by its historical context and by the institutions that supported its production and distribution.