Christ Receiving the Children c. 1655

Sebastien Bourdon painted "Christ Receiving the Children" with oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. The painting depicts a biblical scene, rendered through Bourdon's perspective as a 17th-century French artist deeply influenced by classical and baroque styles. Bourdon positions Christ in a serene, almost theatrical setting. He is surrounded by figures from different societal positions – mothers, children, and learned men. Bourdon’s approach may reflect his personal leanings towards Protestantism and the Jansenist movement, which emphasized personal faith. The emotions in the painting, particularly the tenderness between the mothers and children, evoke a sense of intimate connection, a quiet revolution against the rigid structures of religious authority. Though the piece depicts an apparently inclusive scene, we might also consider what it leaves out. Who is not present? How might those absences shape our understanding of the world Bourdon creates? The painting asks us to reflect on the themes of inclusion and exclusion, both in the context of the gospel and in our own lives.