The Sojourn of The Holy Family in Egypt, from "The Life of the Virgin"

The Sojourn of The Holy Family in Egypt, from "The Life of the Virgin" is a pivotal woodcut created by Albrecht Dürer in 1511. This celebrated work belongs to the artist's large print cycle, "The Life of the Virgin," a series instrumental in defining early 16th-century Northern Renaissance art. As a master engraver and woodcut designer, Dürer utilized the woodcut medium to disseminate complex religious narratives widely, ensuring his art reached a vast audience across Europe in ways that panel paintings typically could not.

The scene captures the moment when the Holy Family pauses during their perilous flight into Egypt, a traditional biblical subject that combines spiritual devotion with pastoral setting. In this finely detailed print, the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child rest near evocative architectural Ruins, a subtle commentary on the decay of the old pagan world giving way to the new Christian era. Dürer’s masterful use of intricate line work defines the voluminous robes and the surrounding natural world, creating a sense of dynamic depth typical of his dramatic style.

The composition is animated by a multitude of small Angels who attend to the Holy Family, assisting with daily tasks or offering musical accompaniment. The clarity of the line and dramatic intensity evident in this impression demonstrate why Dürer is considered the apex of German Renaissance printmaking. This historically significant woodcut resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Works like this, foundational to the history of prints, often reside in the public domain, promoting continued study of Dürer's influential legacy.