Fresco in the Karmeliterkloster, Frankfurt am Main 

Jörg Ratgeb painted this fresco in the Karmeliterkloster in Frankfurt am Main. At first glance, this appears to be a traditional nativity scene, but look closer. Ratgeb painted this in the early 16th century, a time of immense social upheaval in Germany. The cool colors and the close proximity of the figures create a sense of unease and overcrowding. The figures are common folk, and the setting is humble. This isn’t the grand, idealized Nativity you might expect. Ratgeb, who would later be executed for his involvement in the Peasants’ War, seems to be making a statement about the social realities of his time. The composition places the holy family among the commoners. To understand Ratgeb’s intentions, one must delve into the history of the Reformation and the socio-economic conditions of the peasantry. Researching the history of the Karmeliterkloster itself may reveal how progressive ideas could circulate even within religious institutions. Art, after all, is never created in a vacuum. Its meaning is always shaped by the society in which it is produced.