Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1548 - 1603

This print, Rest on the Flight into Egypt, was made by Jan Ditmaer around 1600, using the intaglio process. The image is formed from lines incised into a metal plate, which hold ink transferred to paper under pressure. Look closely and you’ll see how the artist modulates the tones by varying the density of lines. This print exemplifies the reproductive potential of the medium, which democratized access to imagery. But we should also consider the labor involved: the skilled hand of the engraver translating someone else's design. The image shows the holy family during their flight to Egypt, escaping the Massacre of the Innocents. Angels provide them with sustenance, a miraculous bounty in the wilderness. What could easily be taken as a straightforward expression of faith also reflects a sophisticated economic and social network. Printmaking relied on skilled artisans, publishers, distributors, and a consuming public, all contributing to the circulation of both religious narratives and the wider visual culture of the time. It invites us to think more expansively about the networks of making in which images are created, distributed, and consumed.