Notes

One of a total of eight prints on the theme of the Flight into Egypt or the Rest on the Flight, all of which differ greatly in style, composition and format, the present version demonstrates Rembrandt’s urge to experiment and his success in adapting to different challenges. By loosely applying acid directly onto the plate, a technique called open-bite, Rembrandt created a visual effect which perfectly imitates the fluid nature of the water of the brook at the lower edge of the plate.

As one of the towering figures in the history of art, Rembrandt, a miller’s son from the university town of Leiden, was an artist of unmatched genius. Equally gifted as a painter, printmaker, and draftsman, Rembrandt proved himself to be as skillful at making portraits as he was at creating religious and mythological narratives. His landscapes are just as remarkable as his rare still lifes and subjects detailing everyday life.

Widely recognized as the greatest practitioner of the etching technique in the history of art, Rembrandt created 300 prints that constitute a body of work unparalleled in richness and beauty. During his lifetime, Rembrandt’s extraordinary skills as a printmaker were the main source of his international fame. Unlike his oil paintings, prints travelled light and were relatively cheap. For this reason, they soon became very popular with collectors not only within, but also beyond the borders of the Netherlands.