Geboorte van Christus. 1547 - 1612

Philips Galle etched this image of the Nativity, sometime before his death in 1612. It overflows with symbols: the ox and ass, ancient Jewish symbols of redemption; angels bearing witness to Christ's birth, as foretold in Isaiah; and the Virgin Mary, kneeling in humility. Consider Mary’s pose. Her folded hands and lowered gaze—a posture of modesty and reverence—is repeated in countless images across cultures. One finds similar gestures of devotion in ancient votive statues of the Near East, where figures stand with clasped hands, offering prayers to the gods. These symbols transcend mere historical context; they tap into something primal. Perhaps the act of kneeling, of lowering oneself before the divine, speaks to a universal longing for connection with something greater than ourselves. It is a deeply ingrained, archetypal gesture—a visual embodiment of faith and submission that resonates on a subconscious level. This image is not just a scene, but a vessel of cultural memory.