Vlucht naar Egypte after 1660

Jan van Ossenbeeck created this etching, Vlucht naar Egypte, during the Dutch Golden Age. The image depicts Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus fleeing to Egypt, as told in the Gospel of Matthew. The choice to depict biblical scenes was not just about religious devotion, but also about reflecting the cultural values and social realities of the time. The Dutch Republic was a Protestant nation, but there was a strong artistic market for religious art. Protestantism influenced the way biblical stories were portrayed: artists often emphasized the human aspects and moral lessons of the stories. This etching reflects a broader cultural interest in storytelling through images. By studying such works, and the contexts in which they were created, we gain insights into the social values, religious beliefs, and artistic practices of 17th-century Holland.