The Flight into Egypt 1627

Rembrandt van Rijn painted The Flight into Egypt on a small copper plate. It depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt to escape King Herod's order to kill all male children. Painted in the Dutch Republic, this work reflects the period’s religious and social dynamics. The choice of a biblical scene aligns with the Protestant emphasis on scripture. Yet Rembrandt's interpretation is intensely human, far from idealised. The dim lighting and humble figures suggest a family seeking refuge, a relevant theme in a time of religious conflict and displacement. Rembrandt was deeply engaged with questions of artistic institutions, and we see that in his unconventional compositions, or his use of light and shadow, or even his rejection of the established norms of the time, marking him as a progressive force in the art world. To truly understand this painting, historical sources such as religious texts, social histories, and the artist's biography are invaluable. These help us see the painting not just as a biblical scene, but as a product of its time, shaped by its society and institutions.