Mary and Joseph, Holding the Child, are Escorted by an Angel, plate twelve from The Flight into Egypt 1753

This etching, "Mary and Joseph, Holding the Child, are Escorted by an Angel," was created by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. The composition is dominated by a flurry of finely etched lines, creating a network of textures and tones that capture the eye. The formal structure is Baroque. Observe how Tiepolo uses line to define form and volume. This lends a sense of movement and drama that pulls us into the scene. The angel, with its wings spread wide, acts as a visual guide, leading the holy family. This arrangement is not just narrative but also a complex play of light and shadow. The visual elements of the artwork destabilize established meanings, and invite an open interpretation. The delicate lines and tonal variations, play with light and shadow, and create a fluid, dynamic surface.