Nativity c. 16th century

Curator: This is Giorgio Ghisi’s engraving, Nativity, made sometime between 1515 and 1582. The delicate cross-hatching creates a scene filled with light. Editor: It’s overwhelmingly bright, isn’t it? Almost blinding. Look at the contrast between the heavenly host and the humble materials of the stable. Curator: The linear perspective draws the eye upward, emphasizing the divine light source and the floating cherubic figures. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. Editor: Yes, but consider the labor involved. The act of engraving, the very physicality of the medium, contrasts with the ethereal subject matter. Curator: The composition, with its balanced asymmetry, evokes a sense of serene order. The artist has truly mastered form. Editor: I see a visual narrative that elevates the humble materials, the labor of creation, to something divine. Curator: Indeed. It’s a testament to human skill in representing the divine. Editor: And perhaps, a recognition that the divine is present in human labor itself.