Hvilen på flugten til Ægypten 1589

Jacques de Gheyn II created this engraving, "Rest on the Flight to Egypt," a testament to the enduring power of archetypal images. Mary's gesture of breastfeeding the infant Jesus embodies a nurturing Madonna, a symbol resonating with ancient fertility goddesses. This maternal iconography appears across cultures, echoing in Egyptian depictions of Isis nursing Horus, or the Greek Gaia feeding her children. The act transcends its religious context, tapping into a primal recognition of maternal care. Consider the motif of the "milk giver;" the image evolves through time, carrying a deep-seated connection to life-giving forces. The image evokes a collective memory, a shared understanding of the profound link between mother and child. The quiet intimacy of the scene, rendered with delicate lines, invites us to contemplate the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth—a powerful cycle that resonates within our subconscious.