Adoration of the shepherds 1680

Johann Heinrich Schönfeld created “Adoration of the Shepherds” using pen and brown ink with gray wash. Schönfeld, working in 17th century Germany amidst the devastation of the Thirty Years' War, often depicted religious and mythological scenes with a distinctive Italianate style. Here, we see the humble shepherds, traditionally figures on the margins of society, kneeling in reverence before the newborn Christ. Note how the artist uses light and shadow to direct our gaze towards the manger, emphasizing the vulnerability and humanity of the divine child. The shepherds, weathered and worn, represent the everyday person's encounter with the sacred. Unlike traditional representations of the Nativity, Schönfeld focuses on the emotional experience of ordinary people, and offers a more intimate and relatable portrayal of this biblical event. The scene is imbued with a sense of quiet awe and wonder, inviting us to contemplate the significance of this encounter between the earthly and the divine.