The Nativity 1863

Edward Burne-Jones made this design for ‘The Nativity’, with pen and ink and watercolour, at an unknown date. Burne-Jones was part of the Pre-Raphaelite movement that rebelled against what they saw as the rigid academic style taught in art institutions. They wanted to return to the detail, intense colours, and complex compositions of early Renaissance art. Here, he has represented the birth of Jesus. The scene is full of familiar figures: Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels. Look at the patterns and details of the angel’s clothing. Burne-Jones was part of the Arts and Crafts movement, which rejected industrial production. Instead, the movement favoured the work of individual artisans and traditional craft techniques, such as those seen here. To truly understand the image, we can explore the writings of the Pre-Raphaelites. We can also research the impact of the Arts and Crafts movement on Victorian society. Understanding that Burne-Jones aimed to critique the social structures of his time allows us to appreciate the rich symbolism of this work.