The Flight into Egypt 1927

Frederick George Austin created this etching entitled ‘The Flight into Egypt’ in 1927. Look at the sky. Can you see the dense diagonal marks which feel full of worry and stress? I can imagine Austin working on the plate, pressing hard to get that dramatic contrast between light and dark, probably thinking about the story, the danger, and the vulnerability of the family. He emphasizes their journey, their movement, and the bare setting in this dark vision. Do you think he uses the landscape to mirror the mood of the scene? The way Austin carves those lines in the sky reminds me of other etchers like Whistler, who played with tone and atmosphere. Here, the forms are simplified, almost modernist in their reduction, but the overall feel is ancient, timeless even. What do you think Austin was hoping to evoke?