The Flight into Egypt 1768

Jean Laurent Legeay’s etching, *The Flight into Egypt*, presents a scene overwhelmed by the weight of classical ruins and dense textures. The composition is carefully structured to draw the eye through layers of intricate detail. Notice how Legeay uses the crumbling architecture not just as a backdrop, but as an active element that destabilizes our sense of space and perspective. The ruins—a semiotic system of a fallen civilization—become a stage upon which the biblical narrative unfolds. Look closely at how the delicate lines and the contrast between light and shadow create a sense of depth and drama. The family of the Christ child are almost dwarfed by the scale of the architecture. The past is very much present in the present. It is a visual allegory of time, ruin, and the ongoing dialogue between classical ideals and Christian narratives. The work invites us to contemplate the layers of history and meaning embedded within its intricate structure.