The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook

"The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook" is a significant print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1654. This powerful image of the biblical narrative employs a sophisticated combination of etching, engraving, and drypoint techniques, showcasing the artist's masterful control over the printed line. The scene depicts Joseph leading Mary and the infant Jesus across a small body of water, with Mary seated upon the humble donkey.

Rembrandt utilized drypoint extensively here to create rich, velvety blacks and soft burr, contrasting sharply with the precise etched lines that define the figures and the rough terrain. Unlike many contemporary artists who used printmaking primarily for reproduction, Rembrandt treated the medium as an independent art form, often making subtle variations between impressions to achieve different atmospheric effects. The subject matter emphasizes the weary journey of the subjects, highlighting the vulnerability of the Men and Women as they flee persecution in Judea. The inclusion of the Donkeys serves not merely as a detail, but underscores the harsh necessity of their flight.

Dating from Rembrandt's mature period, the work demonstrates his characteristic humanistic approach to religious themes, grounding the divine story in ordinary human experience. This impression is housed within the renowned collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. As this work originates from the Dutch Golden Age, prints and high-quality reproductions are frequently accessible for study through public domain initiatives, ensuring continued scholarship on the influential works of this Dutch master.