Aanbidding door de herders 1816 - 1889

Johannes de Mare created this artwork, 'Adoration of the Shepherds', using etching techniques. Here, Mary and the newborn Christ are the dominant figures, surrounded by humble shepherds. Their clasped hands, a gesture seen across cultures and eras, denote reverence, a silent language of devotion. This motif echoes in countless Renaissance paintings, linking back to ancient Roman orators, their gestures of supplication etched in stone. The shepherds, these simple folk, are imbued with an aura of pure awe. Note the star above, an archetypal symbol, guiding not only the Magi but the collective human psyche. Stars have always represented destiny, guidance, a glimmer of hope in the darkest night. This image, like others depicting the Nativity, taps into a deep well of collective memory. The image embodies the cyclical nature of symbols. The shepherds, the star, the clasped hands, all are reborn through time.