Adoration of the shepherds 

Pieter van Mol created this pen and brown ink drawing, “Adoration of the Shepherds,” in the 17th century. Van Mol was working during the Baroque period, when there was a renewed emphasis on religious themes in art, often depicted with dramatic emotional intensity. The scene shows the shepherds visiting the newborn Jesus. The figures are grouped closely together, their faces filled with awe and reverence. Consider who is represented in this adoration scene: Mary is at the center, but the figures around her are working-class shepherds. In that period, religious art was typically commissioned by wealthy patrons. This piece offered a powerful message: divinity is accessible to all, regardless of their social standing. It encourages the viewer to connect with the scene on a personal level, to reflect on their own beliefs and experiences. The drawing reminds us that art has the power to bridge divides and to speak to our shared humanity.