Rest on the Flight into Egypt at Night

"Rest on the Flight into Egypt at Night" is an evocative graphic work created by Rembrandt van Rijn between 1642 and 1646. Classified in the Rijksmuseum collection as a Book, this striking composition on paper depicts the Holy Family paused during their perilous journey to escape King Herod’s decree. The scene is intimate and intensely focused, showing Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus resting under the cover of complete darkness, suggesting the urgency and isolation of their pilgrimage.

Rijn employed sophisticated techniques to render this powerful nocturnal setting, utilizing profound contrasts of light and shadow. The masterful use of chiaroscuro highlights the vulnerability of the sacred figures, where sparse illumination draws the viewer’s attention solely to the mother and child. This artistic choice connects the work firmly to the high Baroque period in the Netherlands, characterized by emotional intensity and deep psychological realism.

The original design was rendered on paper, likely as a drawing or perhaps an early state of an etching, a medium in which Rijn excelled throughout his career. The creation of such graphic works facilitated the production of multiple prints, allowing broader distribution of the artist’s deeply personal interpretations of scripture across Europe. While the original example resides within the renowned holdings of the Rijksmuseum, the longevity and cultural significance of such masterworks mean that high-quality images and related prints are often available through public domain collections today.