Aanbidding der herders 1578 - 1628

Pieter Cornelisz. van Rijck created this drawing of the Adoration of the Shepherds with pen in brown ink and brush in brown and gray ink. The image depicts a biblical scene, but it also reflects the social and cultural values of the 17th-century Netherlands. At this time the Dutch Republic was a Protestant nation, where the Catholic tradition of grand religious imagery was often viewed with suspicion. Van Rijck's image offers a humbler depiction of religious events. It shows the shepherds as ordinary people, come to worship Jesus. The picture is an intimate, domestic scene in a humble setting. Van Rijck’s Adoration is a complex combination of faith, social commentary, and artistic innovation. To better understand such images, we can consult period sources such as religious tracts, social histories, and artists' biographies. These help us understand the cultural forces that shaped its creation and reception. Ultimately, this artwork reminds us that art is always a product of its time, reflecting the values, beliefs, and social structures of the society in which it was made.