Moses Left on the Nile as an Infant 17th-18th century

Curator: Jean Audran created this engraving, "Moses Left on the Nile as an Infant." Look closely; it's currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's heavy, isn't it? That feeling of dread just permeates the scene. Everyone is caught in a moment of quiet desperation. Curator: Notice how Audran uses the landscape—the imposing city in the background—to emphasize the vulnerability of the figures in the foreground. The composition tells a story of power and helplessness. Editor: The figures! Their poses convey such raw emotion. The mother's anguish, the stoic father...even the innocent child seems to carry the weight of the world. It's an intense piece, really. Curator: Absolutely. Audran masterfully uses light and shadow to create depth and highlight the emotional tension of the biblical scene. Editor: Seeing it now, I'm struck by how such delicate lines can hold so much sorrow and still find a way to echo through time. It really makes you think.