The Adoration of the Shepherds c. 1657
rembrandtvanrijn
print photography
photo of handprinted image
wedding photograph
wedding photography
organic shape
light coloured
natural colouring
curved letter used
celebration photography
shadow overcast
Rembrandt’s etching, “The Adoration of the Shepherds”, is a powerful depiction of the biblical story, showcasing the awe and wonder of the shepherds upon discovering the newborn Christ. Created around 1657, the work is known for its dramatic use of light and shadow. The central figures are bathed in a luminous glow emanating from a lantern, while the surrounding landscape is shrouded in darkness, emphasizing the momentousness of the event. This masterful interplay of light and shadow, a hallmark of Rembrandt’s style, creates a palpable sense of mystery and reverence.
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After the annunciation, the shepherds travel to Bethlehem and find Jesus with his parents in a stable. Rembrandt could not have depicted this scene any darker or stiller. The lantern of the arriving shepherds casts light on the Virgin, who has fallen asleep. Joseph sits reading by his own lamplight and looks up in surprise.
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The adoration of the shepherds has often been depicted in graphic art. Rembrandt’s version is exceptional for the extreme rendering of the nocturnal gloom in the stable. To achieve this velvety darkness, he successively reduced the light in subsequent states. In this impression, he intensified the shadow around Joseph, so that only his book and the faces of Mary and the Christ Child are still illuminated.
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