Vlucht naar Egypte 1864

Léopold Flameng created this etching entitled 'Vlucht naar Egypte' - or 'Flight to Egypt' - sometime between 1831 and 1911. Flameng, who lived through the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, may have been interested in visually interpreting the biblical narrative of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt to escape persecution. During periods of conflict, themes of displacement and refuge often become amplified in the cultural imagination. Here, the artist depicts Mary, seated on a donkey, with the infant Jesus, and Joseph, accompanied by angels. It’s interesting how Flameng blends the divine with the mundane. Mary, though the mother of God, is presented as a refugee, dependent on the kindness of strangers and divine intervention. The angel assisting her references her elevated status, while her seated position illustrates her weariness. Consider how this print serves as a mirror reflecting both historical anxieties and the timeless human experience of seeking safety and belonging.