Rest on the flight into Egypt: a night piece c. 1644

Editor: So, here we have Rembrandt van Rijn's "Rest on the Flight into Egypt: a night piece," from around 1644, an etching currently housed at the Rijksmuseum. The way Rembrandt uses light and shadow really creates a sense of intimacy and quiet contemplation. What do you see in this work? Curator: It's tempting to read this scene solely through a biblical lens. But if we engage with Rembrandt's world, we find a society wrestling with its own religious, economic, and political anxieties. Consider the refugees fleeing war today; how are they depicted versus the Holy Family? Rembrandt invites a connection with the marginalized through his embrace of the chiaroscuro technique, illuminating their plight against a backdrop of societal darkness. Editor: That's fascinating. So you're saying Rembrandt might be using a familiar story to comment on broader social issues? Curator: Precisely! The intimate portrayal counters the idealized, often distanced, depictions of religious figures prevalent at the time. See how he emphasizes the weariness in Joseph's posture, or the vulnerability in Mary's embrace of Jesus? He subtly critiques systems that force displacement. The single lantern illuminates this struggle while alluding to something miraculous that also has it’s origin in common people. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It makes me think about who gets to be a protagonist in art and in life. Curator: Indeed. And this etching subtly disrupts those power dynamics. How does situating this image in today's conversation surrounding immigration and power change how you view this piece? Editor: I will think about this piece and others in new ways. Thank you! Curator: The beauty of art history is that it continues to reshape itself.