The Virgin and Joseph at the Inn 1585

Editor: This etching, "The Virgin and Joseph at the Inn" by Adriaen Collaert, really captures a sense of late 16th-century daily life. The body language seems so expressive. What stands out to you? Curator: Notice the ox and ass in the sky, traditional symbols representing gentiles and Jews, united in adoration. How does that resonate with the innkeeper's closed door? Editor: It’s like a rejection of unity and faith. Curator: Precisely. Collaert uses familiar symbols to highlight deeper themes of welcome and exclusion, something still relevant today, don’t you think? Editor: Absolutely. It is fascinating how symbols act as bridges to understanding the past and reflecting on the present.