Return of the Holy Family from Egypt c. 17th century

Curator: This is Moyses van Uyttenbroeck’s "Return of the Holy Family from Egypt," a small etching, about 16 by 16 centimeters, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The delicate lines give it an almost dreamlike quality. I'm immediately drawn to the textures—the roughness of the stone, the softness of the drapery, and the almost frantic scribbles suggesting foliage. Curator: Indeed. Uyttenbroeck, active in the early 17th century, was deeply immersed in the artistic milieu of his time, and this work reflects the ongoing interest in religious narrative within a changing social and political landscape. Editor: It’s fascinating how the printmaking process itself informs the content. The labor intensive, repetitive strokes become almost a form of devotion, mirroring the family's arduous journey. Curator: Absolutely. And the print medium also allowed for wider dissemination of religious imagery, influencing public piety. Editor: Though small, the print seems to suggest grand narratives about family, faith, and labor. It shows how an etching, born from process, embodies the profound social and spiritual dialogues of its time. Curator: A tiny window into a much larger world.