Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1593 - 1660

Hendrik van der Borcht the Younger created this engraving, “Rest on the Flight into Egypt,” sometime in the 17th century. The Virgin Mary, nursing the infant Jesus, dominates the scene, a tender Madonna amidst the chaos of exile. The iconography of the Madonna lactans, the nursing mother, stretches back to ancient fertility goddesses. Consider the Egyptian Isis nursing Horus: a potent symbol of life, nourishment, and protection echoed through the ages. Even in the early Christian era, images of Mary nursing Jesus became associated with divine nourishment and care, embodying the Church's role in nurturing believers. Here, the motif of the nursing Madonna, juxtaposed with the flight from Herod's infanticide, deepens the emotional resonance. It speaks to the primal fear of loss, the vulnerability of innocence, and the enduring power of maternal love. The image taps into a collective memory, a subconscious recognition of the fundamental bond between mother and child, a bond that transcends time and circumstance. The enduring power of the Madonna lactans lies in its ability to elicit profound emotional responses, reminding us of the cyclical nature of life and the unwavering strength found in the simplest acts of love and care.