Vlucht naar Egypte 1636 - 1719

Curator: Here, we have an etching titled "Vlucht naar Egypte," or "Flight into Egypt," created around 1636 by an anonymous artist and currently held in the Rijksmuseum collection. The piece offers a representation of a critical event, a turn in the story through the lens of the baroque period. Editor: There's an almost dreamlike quality to the composition. I feel an incredible sense of urgency—not panicked, but quietly determined. I picture the quiet plodding of hooves. Is that ridiculous? Curator: Not at all. The image shows Mary, the holy child, and Joseph in their hasty escape from King Herod's threat. As a depiction of refugees, it allows for discourse around modern interpretations of migration, safety, and seeking asylum from the context of political persecution. The style offers an intersection between religion, society, and power. Editor: Absolutely. The starkness of the lines really accentuates that urgency. It feels almost…raw. I wonder what motivated the choice of the anonymous hand rather than that of a single attributed entity to etch such a meaningful piece in that period. Do you think there could be more than simply modesty or happenstance there? Curator: It is an important element, indeed. It certainly forces the critical eye to re-evaluate themes within historical narratives while prompting more essential contemporary considerations and investigations into socioeconomic contexts in an age where access and visibility were impacted by cultural norms of its time. Editor: I’m thinking, the anonymity is strangely powerful. The lack of a definitive signature creates space for our own experiences, as viewers, to enter the narrative more completely, don't you think? Curator: A compelling and insightful analysis. Editor: Thank you! Well, on that note, I feel changed somehow! Curator: Likewise!