Sculptuur De geboorte van Christus door Nicola Pisano op het kansel van het Baptisterium te Pisa, Italië 1860 - 1881

This is a photograph by Giacomo Brogi of Nicola Pisano’s pulpit in Pisa, featuring a panel depicting the Nativity. It presents a tapestry of figures, each laden with symbolic weight. The reclining Virgin Mary, attended by midwives, echoes ancient Roman sarcophagi, where such poses signified the eternal rest of the soul. This motif, imbued with the solemnity of classical antiquity, resurfaces here in a Christian context, subtly shifting its emphasis towards rebirth and renewal rather than finality. We also see the shepherds and their flock, a symbol of simple faith and pastoral innocence. Consider how these symbols, like echoes across time, resonate with earlier pagan traditions. The act of bathing the newborn Christ is an iconic representation of purity and new beginnings. The motif, recurring in various forms throughout history, reflects a deep-seated human desire for cleansing and spiritual renewal. Such visual motifs tap into a collective memory, stirring subconscious emotions and connecting us to the cultural and spiritual concerns of past generations. It is a powerful, archetypal image that continues to engage us on a deeply subconscious level.