Rivierlandschap met vlucht naar Egypte 1613 - 1666

Nicolas Perelle etched this Rivierlandschap met vlucht naar Egypte portraying the Flight into Egypt. Here, the Holy Family makes their escape through a dense landscape, a visual representation of the biblical narrative where Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus flee to Egypt to escape King Herod's infanticide. The scene, though seemingly simple, is laden with symbolism. The journey itself—a motif seen across cultures, from the wanderings of Odysseus to the flights of Aeneas—represents a quest for safety, a search for a new beginning. This echoes in the Jewish Passover story, a foundational myth of escape from tyranny. Consider, too, how the image of the "journey" evokes a deep, almost primal response within us. It taps into our collective memory of migrations, of seeking refuge. The flight motif continues to surface throughout time, constantly shifting in meaning. Whether it is a literal escape or a metaphorical one, it represents the fundamental human drive for survival and a better future.