Rust van de Heilige Familie 1625 - 1679

Editor: This is Jean Dughet’s "Rest on the Flight into Egypt," likely created sometime between 1625 and 1679. It's an engraving, rendered with incredibly fine lines. The mood seems almost dreamlike to me, softened by the monochrome and the idyllic landscape surrounding the Holy Family. What draws your eye when you look at this? Curator: Dreamlike is perfect; it feels like a half-remembered echo. For me, it’s the light. Notice how Dughet uses the engraving to create pockets of luminous space around the figures? It’s almost as if the landscape breathes with them, reflecting their peace amidst, you know, the "on the run" vibes. I also keep coming back to the ox... isn't it a peculiar addition to the Holy Family narrative? Editor: Absolutely! The ox does seem out of place, almost stoic. Is it a symbolic element, perhaps? Curator: Precisely! Animals often carried symbolic weight in Baroque art, didn't they? Here, the ox might represent patience, or the burdens they carry – both literal and metaphorical – on their journey. Or it could be simply pastoral decoration to set a pleasing mood. Which way to interpret the scene is most interesting to you? Editor: The burdens! The more earthly and practical element. So, perhaps it’s not just a scene of serenity but also of resilience, underscored by the quiet strength of that ox. Curator: You got it! A holy family, yes, but rendered with the gritty realism of travel, making the divine accessible. An artist doesn’t just reproduce, but uses their feelings, imaginings, and experiences, all mixed in with skill to share their experience. Editor: That’s a wonderful observation. I’ll never look at Baroque landscapes the same way again. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure, truly. The more senses we engage with it the deeper it stays within.