Aanbidding door de herders 1604

"Aanbidding door de herders" (Adoration of the Shepherds), a 1604 engraving by Lucas Kilian, depicts the biblical scene of shepherds worshipping the newborn Christ child. The detailed, expressive style of the print, characteristic of Northern Renaissance art, emphasizes the awe and reverence of the event. The central figures of Mary, Joseph, and the Christ child are surrounded by a group of shepherds, some kneeling in prayer, others gazing in wonder. The scene is bathed in a celestial light emanating from a divine presence above, with angels playing trumpets, Kilian masterfully captures the emotional intensity of this pivotal moment in Christian history. The print, now in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Kilian's ability to create powerful and evocative images through the medium of engraving.