Aanbidding door de herders 1596 - 1672

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this striking print, "Adoration of the Shepherds," dating from 1596 to 1672, here at the Rijksmuseum. This baroque engraving captures the scene of the Nativity. Editor: It’s pretty moody for such a happy occasion! All that intricate linework creates such dramatic shadows and a feeling almost like the quiet hush of a secret being shared. I can almost hear those hushed tones in my head! Curator: Absolutely. The darkness is typical of Baroque sensibilities, of course, emphasizing light for dramatic and spiritual effect. Consider, too, the sociopolitical implications. Prints like this served as easily reproducible devotional images, spreading religious ideology more widely, even to those who could not afford paintings. Editor: True, you know what's more interesting is how much it feels like a staged tableau. The characters look like they're posing. They're supposed to be these rough-and-ready shepherds, yet they're struck frozen like it’s a fashion shoot in a stable. But I do appreciate the detail and that it humanizes a story. Curator: Right! This approach helped bridge the gap between the divine narrative and the lives of ordinary people. Prints such as these also acted as vital forms of communication. Disseminating religious, but sometimes even, political messages. Editor: Ah yes! It almost reminds me of art being produced today. Do you ever think about how the purpose of art kind of never changes? Curator: An important reminder to think about context, right? But even further it allows us to see art as it responds to and changes public view. Editor: True that. And the image, as a simple, sweet, reminder to me. Curator: A blend of religious devotion, artistic innovation, and societal context, captured in monochrome, ready for reproduction.