Landschaft mit der Flucht nach Ägypten, rechts die Heilige Familie, in der Mitte eine antike Statue, links die Gruppe der Verfolger 1549

Franz Buch created this ink drawing, “Landscape with the Flight to Egypt,” situating the biblical narrative within a complex cultural and historical landscape. The scene unfolds with the Holy Family on the right, fleeing persecution. Buch places them in a landscape dotted with symbols of power and faith. An antique statue dominates the center, juxtaposed with the approaching group of pursuers on the left. Buch was working within a European context marked by religious conflict and the ever-present legacy of classical antiquity. What strikes me most is the emotional tension he creates. The vulnerable family seeks refuge, shadowed by both pagan symbols and immediate threats. The figures are not merely biblical characters; they are people caught in the crosscurrents of history, displacement, and the search for safety. Buch makes us feel their precariousness. Ultimately, this drawing speaks to the timeless themes of persecution, faith, and the human quest for refuge, all framed by the complex intersections of power and belief.