The Adoration of the Shepherds c. 1765

"The Adoration of the Shepherds" was painted by Januarius Zick in the 18th century, a period marked by significant social stratification and religious devotion. Here, Zick paints a tender, intimate scene; the Virgin Mary presents the newborn Christ to a group of shepherds. What strikes me most is the emotional exchange between the figures—the shepherds, typically of the lowest social class, are rendered with a certain dignity and grace. The artist’s choice to humanize these figures—to show their wonder and reverence—challenges the rigid social hierarchies of the time. We can almost feel their awe. The inclusion of simple, everyday objects, like a basket of eggs and a humble chicken, further grounds the divine event in the reality of the common person. Consider how Zick uses light and shadow to draw our eyes to the Christ child, emphasizing the transformative power of faith in the lives of ordinary people. This painting encourages us to think about how the narratives we create around religious figures shape our understanding of class, identity, and spirituality.