Uittocht uit Egypte 1579 - 1643

Curator: Before us, we have "The Exodus from Egypt," an engraving believed to be from somewhere between 1579 and 1643, attributed to Johann Sadeler I, now residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It's quite a piece, wouldn't you say? Editor: My first thought is chaos—but a purposeful kind of chaos. There's so much movement and detail packed into this print; you can almost feel the urgency and exhaustion of this exodus, the textures are simply gorgeous, made only of hatches. Curator: Exactly, the landscape format adds to that sense of a sprawling journey, both physical and spiritual. I'm intrigued by how the act of "making" reflects a particular early modern context and an artisanal approach. What processes do you think informed Johann’s methods for transferring his ideas into printed material? Editor: Thinking about Sadeler's technique – the copperplate engraving gives him precise control but it’s labor-intensive. Each line carefully etched. I mean think about it: a copper plate, acids, specialized tools. His skill becomes a tangible thing. But also think about the consumption. These prints, how they democratized biblical narratives; mass produced. Curator: Absolutely. Engravings made the narrative accessible. To me the beauty resides in the imagined landscapes as well, that slightly dreamlike quality in how the mountains rise behind the figures. A bit fantastical maybe, given the circumstances? Editor: Yes! And this blend of the sacred and the ordinary—look at the everyday objects being carried: pots, tools, things from the kitchen. It's not just about divine deliverance; it's about the human experience, the physical toil, the leaving behind and building anew. Curator: I concur wholeheartedly. There's something truly moving about this rendering of a profound historical moment blended with ordinary lives – like a reminder that the epic unfolds in the everyday, crafted laboriously to be viewed by a myriad. Editor: I appreciate that insight, seeing art-making not just as something aesthetic or divinely gifted, but work – material labor, shaped by economics, consumption, and history, making Sadeler an enduring reminder of what art can bring to a wide range of people.