Landscape with The Flight into Egypt 1516

Joachim Patinir made this landscape with ‘The Flight into Egypt’ using oil paints, probably working up thin layers to achieve the effect of atmospheric perspective. Now, landscape painting might seem a world away from craft, but think about it: Patinir was carefully building up an illusion. Look closely and you will see the result of skilled work, with the oil paint carefully layering the underpainting in the distance. He was engaging with the long tradition of panel painting, and the labour involved. The tiny figures are dwarfed by the terrain, emphasizing the vastness of the natural world, and the vulnerability of the refugees, Mary and Jesus. What’s really interesting is how Patinir combined acute observation with pure invention. Notice how he has used different pigments to create a sense of distance and depth. The result is an image that’s both believable and otherworldly. It invites us to consider the sheer skill and artistry that went into its making.