De geboorte, van den zaligmaker Jezus Christus, uyt de Maaget Maria 1731

This print, made by the widow Gijsbert de Groot in Amsterdam, visualizes the birth of Jesus Christ through a series of eight scenes. The simple, almost cartoonish style belies the powerful cultural and religious forces at play in the 18th-century Dutch Republic. Prints like this one were not just devotional objects, but also a form of mass communication. They circulated widely, shaping popular understanding of biblical narratives and reinforcing religious norms. The choice to depict these scenes in a straightforward, accessible manner reflects the Protestant emphasis on individual interpretation of scripture and the importance of religious education. To fully understand this print, we might turn to sources like period sermons, religious pamphlets, and records from the publisher to understand how such images were used and understood in their time. What role did prints like this play in shaping religious identity and social values?