Flugten til Egypten 1880s

Adolph Kittendorff’s ‘The Flight into Egypt’ presents us with the Holy Family under a palm tree. This tree is a symbol of triumph and eternal life, but here, its shade offers refuge. The donkey, patiently waiting, echoes motifs of humility found in the stories of Christ. Such iconography harkens back to antiquity, reminding us of the Roman goddess Victory, often depicted with a palm branch. Consider its presence also in early Christian art, adorning martyrs and saints—a visual language of salvation and victory over death. The emotional weight of this image lies in Mary’s tender embrace of Jesus. This motif, the Madonna and Child, resonates through centuries, evoking universal feelings of maternal love and protection. The vulnerability of the Christ Child elicits empathy, a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. Note how the palm, once a symbol of Roman triumph, has been transformed into a symbol of Christian hope and refuge. This cyclical progression reveals how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings throughout history, reflecting our ever-changing cultural landscape.