Flugten til Egypten 1690 - 1730

Théodore's etching, *The Flight into Egypt*, crafted around 1700, depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus escaping to Egypt, away from Herod's infanticide. Here, the family's donkey is more than just a beast of burden. It's an ancient symbol of humility and service, echoing through centuries. The motif of the ‘Flight’ is present in diverse forms throughout Christian art history; but the donkey, always there, is a silent witness. We find it in Giotto's frescoes and in countless illuminated manuscripts. The donkey links this scene to earlier depictions, evolving into a symbol of both physical and spiritual passage. But what does it mean? Perhaps it embodies the precarious journey of life. The donkey, bearing the weight of hope and salvation, connects us to deep-seated anxieties about protection and continuity, resonating on a primal level within us all. The journey motif is forever cyclical, its images re-emerging and transforming through time.