Geboorte van Peres en Zerach c. 1549

Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert created this print, "Birth of Perez and Zerah," sometime in the 16th century. During the Reformation, artists like Coornhert grappled with representing biblical narratives in ways that spoke to the social and religious upheavals of their time. The image depicts a birthing scene from the Book of Genesis, yet it is also a window into the domestic life and gendered roles of the 16th century. Notice the women attending to the mother and newborns, their gestures of care and concern rendered with remarkable detail. Coornhert emphasizes their strength and presence. Childbirth, a realm dominated by women, becomes a site of communal support and resilience. The print does not shy away from the physicality of birth. Coornhert invites us to reflect on the shared human experiences of vulnerability and strength, both then and now.