The flight into Egypt: a sketch: St Joseph

"The flight into Egypt: a sketch: St Joseph" is a rare and intimate study created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1628. Classified as a print, this piece utilizes the medium of paper to capture the quick, decisive lines characteristic of preparatory sketches or early etching trials. Produced during Rijn’s formative years in Leyden, the work reflects his developing mastery of printmaking techniques, particularly the expressive handling of line, which would become central to his later oeuvre.

The subject focuses solely on the figure of St. Joseph, typically shown accompanying the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child fleeing Herod’s persecution. By isolating the figure, Rijn draws attention to the saint's protective role and internal emotional state, often overlooked in larger narrative compositions of the Flight. This type of printed sketch, emphasizing a single character rather than the entire biblical landscape, allowed the artist to experiment freely with posture, drapery, and the effect of light. The economical use of line demonstrates the immediacy and spontaneity possible through the medium.

This print exemplifies Rijn’s exceptional ability to imbue even small studies with narrative and psychological weight. As a significant example of 17th-century Dutch graphic arts, the work is preserved in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Because the original work has entered the public domain, high-quality reproductions of these early Rijn prints on paper are widely accessible for study and appreciation, further cementing the artist's legacy as a master draftsman.