Who painted The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt was painted by Albrecht Dürer in 1504.

Where can I see The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Flight into Egypt?

The Flight into Egypt is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

The Flight into Egypt

Albrecht Dürer , 1504

The Flight into Egypt is an ink print by the Northern Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer. It dates from 1504 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Albrecht Dürer’s woodcut entitled *The Flight into Egypt* dates from around 1504. Executed as a small-scale print, it portrays the biblical episode in which Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus escape to Egypt. The composition is densely populated, allowing the artist to embed numerous narrative details within a limited visual field.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the Holy Family on the move, accompanied by a donkey that traditionally symbolizes humility and service. Surrounding flora and other natural elements are rendered with careful attention, each likely serving as an emblematic reference to themes of protection, divine providence, and the journey’s spiritual significance.

Technique & Style

Created through the woodcut process, Dürer incised the design onto a wooden block, producing a high-contrast image when inked and pressed onto paper. The print demonstrates his mastery of line work, employing fine hatching and cross-hatching to convey texture, depth, and intricate detail despite the medium’s inherent limitations.

History & Provenance

The work emerged during Dürer’s early mature period, a time when he was exploring religious subjects in print form. While the original block has not survived, several impressions are held in European collections, attesting to the print’s circulation among patrons and its role in disseminating devotional imagery in the early sixteenth century.