Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1589 - 1654

Jacob Matham created "Rest on the Flight into Egypt," around 1589 as an engraving. It presents a scene of the holy family’s journey to Egypt, a narrative born from political unrest and religious persecution. Matham was working during the Counter-Reformation, a period marked by intense religious conflict and shifting social structures. Images of the Holy Family provided solace and represented the disruption of domestic life due to religious and political turmoil. Mary is shown nursing Jesus while Joseph stands watch. The inclusion of the donkey adds a touch of domesticity to their displacement. Matham's engraving not only tells a biblical story, but also mirrors the anxieties of his time, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences of displacement. The emotional core of the piece resides in the intimate portrayal of Mary and Jesus, offering a moment of tenderness amid a landscape of exile.