Flugten til Ægypten 1430 - 1491

Martin Schongauer etched this Flight into Egypt, a depiction of a biblical scene, in the late fifteenth century. Observe Mary, the mother, cradling the infant Christ as they journey, surrounded by a lush, almost dreamlike forest. The forest, brimming with life, has symbolic weight; it's a place of refuge but also teeming with hidden unknowns, reflecting the precariousness of their escape. Angels hover, offering sustenance, a divine intervention suggesting the natural world is in harmony with their holy task. This motif of miraculous provision finds resonance in earlier and later works, echoing classical cornucopia and the nurturing aspects of the maternal archetype. This image carries more than just religious narrative; it evokes a primal sense of protection, nourishment, and the journey through unknown territories, appealing to our collective memory of flight and seeking sanctuary. Indeed, Schongauer's landscape is not merely a backdrop but an active participant in the drama, embodying both the promise and the peril inherent in their journey.