Vlucht naar Egypte 1626 - 1671

This etching, "The Flight into Egypt" by Sebastien Bourdon, depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus escaping to Egypt. Notice Mary, carrying the child, crowned by a halo, atop the donkey being led by Joseph; their posture is not simply of travel, but also of protection and urgency, charged with the immediate threat to the Christ child. The motif of flight, of seeking refuge, resonates deeply within the human psyche. Consider how this scene echoes in other artworks across time and space. We see it in classical depictions of fleeing heroes, in stories of migration and diaspora, each carrying a weight of loss, hope, and transformation. Here, the donkey is not merely a beast of burden, but a symbol of humility and service, also seen in depictions of Christ's entry into Jerusalem. The flight itself becomes a symbol of resistance against tyranny, a theme that resurfaces in countless forms throughout history, reflecting our collective memory of persecution and our enduring quest for safe haven. This image stirs within us an ancestral echo of vulnerability, resilience, and the perennial search for sanctuary.