Geboorte van Christus 1729 - 1755

Jean Daullé created this engraving titled 'Geboorte van Christus', or 'Nativity', sometime between 1703 and 1763, and it now resides here at the Rijksmuseum. This image presents the birth of Christ as a moment of both divine intervention and intimate human experience. Consider the composition: angels unfurl a celestial banner above, while Mary and Joseph gaze upon the newborn Jesus in a humble manger. The contrast between the ethereal realm of angels and the earthy scene of the Nativity highlights the radical claim of Christianity: that the divine entered the human world. Daullé's engraving invites us to contemplate the emotional weight of this encounter. How does the image challenge or reinforce traditional representations of power, gender, and divinity? It is a powerful statement about the convergence of heaven and earth, inviting viewers to reflect on the profound implications of this singular event.