Rest on the Flight into Egypt n.d.

Richard Wilson's drawing, "Rest on the Flight into Egypt," now at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a delicate arrangement of graphite on paper. Immediately, one notices the artist's emphasis on line and form, creating a serene, ethereal quality. Wilson employs a layered composition, guiding the viewer's eye from the foreground figures to the distant architecture. The sketch showcases a structured yet fluid balance between the organic shapes of the trees and the geometric forms of the buildings. The semiotic language of landscape is evident, where trees and buildings are signs of the natural and the human, each bearing cultural and historical weight. The drawing destabilizes the traditional religious narrative by embedding it within a pastoral setting. The Flight into Egypt is not depicted as a moment of crisis but of tranquil repose, challenging expectations. Wilson masterfully uses the structure of landscape not just as a backdrop but as an active participant in the narrative, reflecting broader philosophical interests in nature, divinity and humanity's place within the world.