Flight into Egypt c. 17th century

Curator: This is Claes Pouwelszoon’s "Flight into Egypt," a small but evocative plate etching held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It feels like a dream. That rounded fortress, the way the figures are almost floating. Curator: The subject is a popular one, showing Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing Herod's decree. But the execution here, in this medium, makes it feel so intimate, almost like a secret whispered. Editor: There’s a tenderness, definitely. Mary's holding the baby so protectively. You feel the weight of their journey, the uncertainty etched in Joseph’s posture. And yet, it's strangely beautiful, like finding hope in shadows. Curator: Absolutely, this piece presents us with the human dimensions of a sacred story, reminding us of the vulnerability at its core. Editor: It makes you wonder about their journey and what they will face.