The Adoration of the Shepherds by Rembrandt van Rijn

The Adoration of the Shepherds c. 1657

photo of handprinted image

natural shape and form

light pencil work

natural formation

natural tone

organic shape

natural colouring

pale shade

watercolor

shadow overcast

This etching by Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, titled *The Adoration of the Shepherds* and dating to c. 1657, depicts the biblical scene of the shepherds visiting the newborn Christ child. The composition is dominated by deep shadows, characteristic of Rembrandt's use of chiaroscuro. The central figures of Mary and Joseph are only faintly visible, bathed in the warm glow of a lantern, while the shepherds stand in awe. The dramatic use of light and shadow emphasizes the sacredness of the event, highlighting the profound impact of Christ's arrival on the world. The etching is now housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

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rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Joseph sits in the gloom of the stable, reading a book by the light of a lantern (right). He looks up at the approaching shepherds. Mary, curled up next to him, pushes the blanket away to see who has arrived. The shepherds are barely visible, their contours subtly illuminated. Three oxen can be discerned in the left foreground.