The flight into Egypt crossing a brook 1654

Curator: What a hushed atmosphere in this print! Is it just me, or can you almost hear the soft plodding of the donkey hooves? Editor: Indeed. This etching by Rembrandt van Rijn, dating back to 1654, is titled *The Flight into Egypt: Crossing a Brook*. It currently resides in the Rijksmuseum. As the title suggests, it captures a pivotal scene from the Gospel of Matthew. Curator: The use of line is phenomenal. It feels almost like he's scribbling light into existence. You know? A network of strokes and dashes building the sense of dusk or dawn… it makes it dreamlike. I’d say I almost prefer the drama captured in pen and ink here than his painted version of the same subject. Editor: It is fascinating to compare it to other treatments of the same theme. While artists typically depict a regal escape, Rembrandt chose a quiet, domestic moment. He transforms a historically fraught and public moment to an intimate view on the journey to safety for a young family. And also, etching as a printmaking method was exploding at the time. Rembrandt could be as involved with mark-making as painting, but it was also far more affordable than painting which really opened access for more public appreciation. Curator: The weight of those lines definitely emphasizes the humanity, the simple struggle, of Joseph leading the donkey across the brook. Editor: Precisely. Notice how the figures seem almost enveloped by the landscape. Rembrandt’s compositions often integrate the human drama with the natural world, emphasizing the everyday realities of biblical narratives. The political instability and fear that marked this period echo through time to any viewer considering forced displacement. Curator: I love how Rembrandt suggests the unknown dangers lurking within the deep shadows, that he still leaves enough room for mystery to build. He knew exactly how much to say and, perhaps even more importantly, how much to leave unsaid. Editor: Well, contemplating how public crises lead artists to consider narratives with migration, faith, and hope can leave one contemplating the artist’s intention in this moment and in ours today. Curator: Absolutely. It makes me want to gather all my pens, seek the nearest quiet brook, and scratch out my own truths on paper! Editor: Let's not wander too far off into the wilderness, but perhaps find a seat somewhere for our next adventure!