Aanbidding door de herders 1607 - 1655

This is Cornelis Schut’s etching of The Adoration of the Shepherds, now held at the Rijksmuseum. The image is dominated by symbols of humility and divinity, with the infant Jesus at the center. Note the shepherds, their faces etched with awe as they kneel before the newborn Christ. This reverence echoes through time, finding parallels in the Magi’s adoration and the genuflection of supplicants before sacred figures. Consider the angels above, their swirling forms reminiscent of classical depictions of celestial beings, yet imbued with a distinctly Baroque dynamism. This motif of hovering figures, divine messengers, can be traced back to ancient Greek art and the Roman Empire, where winged victories heralded emperors. Over centuries, this symbol transformed, its essence enduring, yet its interpretation evolving to suit new cultural landscapes. This scene taps into our collective unconscious, where the birth of the divine child elicits feelings of hope, renewal, and the promise of redemption. It’s a story told and retold, each time colored by the era's unique emotional and psychological landscape.