Landschap met reizigers en Heilige Familie 1663 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle created this print, 'Landschap met reizigers en Heilige Familie', sometime between 1631 and 1695. Perelle, working in 17th-century France, a period marked by religious and political upheaval, situates the Holy Family within a serene, yet subtly complex landscape. The figures, rendered with a delicate touch, appear almost as travelers within their own story, a reflection perhaps of the universal search for belonging and safety amid external uncertainty. Consider how the landscape—lush yet structured—mirrors the social hierarchies of the time. The placement of the Holy Family within this idealized version of nature prompts us to consider the traditional narratives of religious art, and how those narratives intersect with power, class, and the lived experiences of ordinary people. The artist seems to be asking: Who is welcome in this landscape, and who remains on the periphery? What does it mean to depict the Holy Family in a way that feels both familiar and subtly displaced?