Aanbidding door de herders 1679 - 1728

This print, "Adoration of the Shepherds," was engraved by Jean-Baptiste de Poilly. It depicts the newborn Christ, revered by humble shepherds. Above the Holy family hovers a radiant host of angels. Note the shepherd kneeling, arms outstretched in supplication—a posture echoing across time, from ancient votive offerings to Renaissance devotional paintings, each instance laden with humanity's yearning for the divine. Think of similar gestures of supplication in ancient Roman art, where figures plead before emperors or gods, these gestures evolve into expressions of Christian piety. Such recurring visual motifs tap into our collective memory, evoking a sense of awe and humility before the mysteries of faith. The very composition, with light emanating from the infant Christ, engages our subconscious, mirroring the enlightenment we seek in the face of worldly darkness. These symbols of adoration constantly resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.