The flight into Egypt: a sketch: St Joseph

The flight into Egypt: a sketch: St Joseph, created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1628, is a significant early work classified as a print on paper. Dating to the beginning of his maturity in Leiden, this piece demonstrates Rijn’s emerging interest in detailed figural studies and intimate biblical narratives, characteristics that would soon define his prolific output during the Dutch Golden Age. Executed when the artist was only 22, the work captures the profound dramatic potential of etching and engraving, media that allowed Rijn to experiment rapidly with compositional ideas.

The subject focuses on the New Testament account of the Holy Family's flight, though here the composition specifically highlights the figure of St. Joseph. Rather than focusing on the dramatic journey itself, the sketch-like quality allows Rijn to explore Joseph’s role as the weary protector, perhaps guiding the donkey or pausing for a brief moment of rest during the perilous escape. Although executed in the unforgiving medium of printmaking, the work reflects the dramatic use of chiaroscuro that Rijn was simultaneously developing in his oil paintings, using dense cross-hatching to create deep shadows and illuminate the central figure.

This early print is a superb illustration of the accessibility of fine art during the 17th century, where prints allowed wider public access to religious imagery than large-scale commissions. The technical mastery and lasting historical significance of Rijn's draftsmanship ensure that high-quality reproductions of this work are frequently available through public domain initiatives today. This rare piece is held in the prestigious collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it contributes to the institution’s comprehensive holdings of 17th-century Dutch masterworks.