Hvilen på flugten til Ægypten 1669

Curator: The initial impression I get is one of exhausted relief, wouldn't you agree? The figures seem suspended between motion and stillness. Editor: Precisely! What we’re observing is a wooden relief, carved around 1669. The artwork, titled "Hvilen på flugten til Ægypten" translates to "The Rest on the Flight to Egypt," and it’s currently held at the SMK, Statens Museum for Kunst. Curator: And created by Antonio Giorgetti, whose Baroque sensibility definitely leans into dramatic contrasts. Look at the cherubic faces peering from the turbulent clouds versus the sheer physicality of Joseph’s weary stance and the nurturing embrace of Mary. Editor: Yes, the figures, they're stocky. Robust! There’s something inherently human and relatable about their journey. The swirling clouds contrast with the sharply delineated leaves— the whole piece is a beautiful balancing act between earthly struggle and divine presence. The narrative, steeped in cultural memory, gains a new dimension through this dynamic composition. The weight of the wood adds an interesting dimension, doesn't it? This isn't some ethereal vision; it's a weighty, tangible experience. Curator: Exactly. The material itself underscores the endurance of the holy family. Wood, after all, speaks of time and resilience. Think about the visual coding involved. Angels almost invariably are suspended in clouds. And Mary breastfeeding infant Jesus: instantly evocative. But I wonder what might people at the time might have decoded here in a completely novel manner? What were the unspoken anxieties embedded? Editor: Maybe it speaks to the universal anxieties of displacement and seeking refuge. The idea that even the most sacred figures had to face hardship. A sort of radical empathy, maybe? Even today it speaks volumes: the search for safety transcends time. Curator: True. And the baroque flair—it emphasizes movement and heightened emotion. You get the sense that this is one single fleeting instant of peace during turmoil. Almost dreamlike... a premonition, even. It really invites introspection on how symbols evolve and stay relevant. Editor: An unexpectedly weighty reflection then. From the robust figures to the symbolic charge, a whole universe packed within this beautiful wood relief.