The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Abraham Bloemaert painted *The Rest on the Flight into Egypt* with oils on canvas, sometime in the early 17th century. Bloemaert was based in Utrecht, and specialized in history paintings. Here, he gives us a very down-to-earth vision of the holy family. They're resting indoors, perhaps in a barn, judging by the rough timbers overhead. Bloemaert uses brown tones to set this humble, almost impoverished scene. Look at the still-life elements – the basketry, the gourds, the earthenware pots. These are all handmade, reflecting a life of manual labor. The image reminds us that even sacred subjects get materialized within class relations. Though Bloemaert was a successful artist, he here imagines the most important figures in Christianity as very close to the soil. The painting’s modest, practical materials speak volumes. This is not a story of divine intervention, but rather the quiet perseverance of ordinary people.