Geboorte van Christus en aanbidding door herders 1809

Charles Howard Hodges created this mezzotint titled "Birth of Christ and Adoration by Shepherds". Hodges, born in London, later became a leading portrait painter in the Netherlands, navigating the shifting political landscapes of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The artwork depicts the Nativity, a scene laden with complex historical and cultural interpretations. Traditionally, the Nativity emphasizes the divine and miraculous aspects of Jesus's birth. Hodges’s print infuses this traditional scene with the era’s social dynamics. Note the gaze of the figures surrounding the infant. The emotionality suggests a connection between the viewer, the artist, and the subjects represented. The image raises questions about power and vulnerability, and the intersecting roles of religion, family, and society. It invites us to reflect on the stories we tell about origins, and how these narratives shape our understanding of ourselves and others.