The flight into Egypt, the Virgin and Child on a donkey, Joseph to the left, after Luca Giordano 1760 - 1793

José del Castillo created this print, “The Flight into Egypt,” after Luca Giordano, sometime in the late 18th century. The composition is striking, defined by a monochromatic palette, and rendered through a series of intricate lines that bring to life the textures of the figures' garments and the surrounding landscape. The Virgin and Child, central to the image, are illuminated by a soft light, which contrasts against the shadowed figure of Joseph, guiding the donkey. The use of line becomes not just a tool for depiction but a means of imbuing the scene with a palpable sense of movement and emotion. Castillo employs hatching and cross-hatching to build depth, and his attention to detail invites the viewer to explore the rich interplay between light and shadow. In this way, the formal elements of the print are inseparable from the narrative being conveyed. It is not merely a reproduction but a complex interpretation.