Adoration of the Shepherds c. 16th century

Editor: This is Cornelis Cort’s "Adoration of the Shepherds," a print housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s so detailed! What I find interesting is how the light seems to emanate directly from the baby Jesus. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This artwork speaks volumes about the intersection of faith and social hierarchies in the 16th century. It prompts us to reflect: who is invited to witness the divine? Note the presence of the shepherds—ordinary, working-class individuals—alongside angelic figures. Editor: So it’s about the inclusion of the marginalized? Curator: Precisely. Consider how this challenges the conventional representations of power, inviting a dialogue on who is deemed worthy of spiritual grace. It asks us to reflect on contemporary systems of inclusion and exclusion. Editor: That gives me a new way to consider the artwork. Thank you!