Christuskind bouwt een schip 1617

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut titled "Christuskind bouwt een schip," sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. During this time, the Dutch Republic was asserting its maritime power, and this piece reflects the intersection of religious narratives with the burgeoning mercantile culture. We see the infant Christ actively engaged in shipbuilding, assisted by angels with a variety of tools. This depiction departs from traditional representations of the Christ Child, who is usually shown in passive, devotional poses. The scene is busy, industrious. It connects spiritual purpose with the very earthly act of constructing a vessel. Consider the implications of portraying Jesus as a builder. This was a period marked by religious and political upheaval, with the rise of Protestantism challenging the Catholic Church’s dominance. By showing Christ involved in physical labor, Van Sichem perhaps emphasizes a more accessible, humanized religious figure, aligning with the Protestant work ethic. This print invites us to contemplate the relationship between faith, labor, and the tangible world, at a time of immense social change.