The Flight into Egypt c. 20th century

Editor: Here we have Carl Marx Schultheiss's "The Flight into Egypt," housed here at Harvard. It’s a print, and I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the figures' stillness and the implied journey. What aspects of its composition do you find most compelling? Curator: Observe the strategic use of line and texture. Schultheiss employs a delicate etching technique, creating a tonal range that models form and conveys a sense of depth. Note the interplay between the dense hatching in the foreground and the more sparsely rendered background. Editor: So, it’s the technique itself that is creating this sense of depth and journey. Curator: Precisely. The composition guides our eye, leading us through the narrative space of the image. Consider also how the figures are placed within the landscape, their arrangement contributing to the overall balance and harmony. Editor: This has given me a new way of looking at prints. Curator: Indeed, the devil is in the details of craft and composition.