The Rest on the Flight into Egypt c. 1626

Rembrandt van Rijn made this etching, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, using metal, acid, and ink. The image is created by incising lines onto a metal plate, which is then submerged in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines, and finally pressed onto paper to produce the print. The image is characterized by its dense network of lines, which create a sense of depth and shadow. This technique allowed Rembrandt to achieve a remarkable level of detail and texture, evident in the foliage, the figures' clothing, and the donkey. Etching allowed for the mass production of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience and changing the art market and consumption. Considering the material and processes behind this print allows us to appreciate the artist's skill and ingenuity, reminding us of the labor that goes into creating art.