The Annunciation to the Shepherds 1663

Abraham Hondius painted “The Annunciation to the Shepherds” using oil on canvas in the Dutch Republic. The image depicts an angel appearing to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus. Hondius was born in Rotterdam in 1631, a time when the Dutch Republic was a major economic and cultural power. The Dutch Golden Age was marked by a flourishing of art and science, and a growing middle class. Hondius specialized in painting animals and hunting scenes, subjects popular with the wealthy merchant class. His choice of subject matter reflects the social and economic realities of his time. The appearance of a heavenly host to humble shepherds underscores the radical nature of the Christian message. The social order is upended with the birth of a king amongst the lowest of society. To understand the social and institutional contexts of this work, you might look into the art market in the Dutch Republic and the role of religious imagery in Dutch society.