The Flight into Egypt

The Flight into Egypt is a profound print created by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1651, showcasing the artist’s technical virtuosity across multiple graphic techniques. Classified as a Print, the work is executed using a complex combination of etching, drypoint, and engraving on laid paper, a demanding process that allowed Rijn to achieve extraordinary tonal depth and variation. Produced during the Dutch Golden Age, this piece reflects the intense focus on biblical narrative and dramatic light characteristic of the 1651 to 1700 period.

The subject illustrates the traditional biblical journey of the Holy Family fleeing persecution under Herod’s decree. Unlike many contemporary depictions, Rijn chooses a nocturnal setting, emphasizing the isolation and danger inherent in their flight. Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child are rendered through a blend of delicate etched lines and dense cross-hatching, contrasting sharply with the deep shadows achieved particularly through the drypoint burr, which yields rich, velvety blacks. Rijn’s manipulation of light sources the figures dramatically, pulling them forward from the surrounding darkness and imbuing the small scene with immense emotional weight. This masterful control over the printed line established the artist as the preeminent printmaker of his era.

As one of Rijn's significant late-career prints, the work demonstrates the emotional depth and humanity he brought to traditional religious iconography. The technical complexity employed in creating The Flight into Egypt ensures its enduring status within the history of graphic arts. This important Dutch work is part of the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art, where it serves as a prime example of Rijn’s mastery of intaglio processes. Due to its age and institutional status, this image is widely reproduced and available today through various public domain resources.