Landschap met ruïnes en rust op de vlucht naar Egypte 1767 - 1770

Jean Laurent Legeay made this print, Landschap met ruïnes en rust op de vlucht naar Egypte, sometime in the 18th century. The scene depicts the Flight into Egypt, a popular biblical story, set against a backdrop of classical ruins. Legeay lived in a time when Europe was rediscovering the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome. This fascination deeply influenced artistic expression, and is evident in the detailed ruins that dominate the composition, reflecting an interest in antiquity but also perhaps, a meditation on the transience of empires. Consider the themes of displacement and refuge central to the biblical narrative. Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus are rendered almost as afterthoughts in a landscape littered with broken columns and crumbling facades. The family's journey to safety contrasts with the decay around them, offering a poignant reflection on survival amidst ruin. How does the artist use the historical context of his time to comment on timeless human experiences of migration, and the search for peace?