Who painted The Exodus from Egypt?

The Exodus from Egypt was painted by Jan Sadeler I in 1585.

Where can I see The Exodus from Egypt?

The Exodus from Egypt is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Exodus from Egypt?

The Exodus from Egypt is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

The Exodus from Egypt

Jan Sadeler I , 1585

The Exodus from Egypt is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Jan Sadeler I. It dates from 1585 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Rendered on laid paper in stark black and white, the image captures a moment of hurried movement, juxtaposing vulnerable civilians with armed troops.

Jan Sadeler I’s 1585 engraving, titled *The Exodus from Egypt*, presents a densely populated tableau of departure. Rendered on laid paper in stark black and white, the image captures a moment of hurried movement, juxtaposing vulnerable civilians with armed troops. The composition is organized around a central figure kneeling with a child, while surrounding characters carry vessels and bundles, all rendered with meticulous line work.

Subject & Meaning

The print visualizes the biblical narrative of the Israelites’ flight from Egyptian bondage. By depicting ordinary people burdened with household items alongside soldiers bearing spears and shields, Sadeler emphasizes the tension between oppression and the instinct for survival. The inclusion of a child in the foreground underscores the generational stakes of the exodus, while the distant mountain hints at the promised destination.

Technique & Style

Sadeler employs fine, intersecting lines to achieve a high level of detail characteristic of late‑Renaissance engraving. The contrast between deep shadows and delicate hatching creates depth on the flat surface of laid paper. Precise incisions delineate textures—from the roughness of the soldiers’ armor to the smoothness of pottery—allowing the viewer to discern individual actions within the crowded scene.

History & Provenance

Created in 1585, the work belongs to the prolific output of the Sadeler family, renowned printmakers active across Europe. The engraving was likely produced for a market interested in religious illustration and the growing demand for illustrated biblical texts. Surviving copies have appeared in several European collections, reflecting the print’s circulation among collectors of devotional imagery during the late sixteenth century.