The Nativity 1500 - 1510

"The Nativity" is a 16th-century engraving by Master I.I.C.A., housed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The print depicts the traditional scene of the birth of Christ, with Mary cradling the baby Jesus in a simple stable setting. The figures are rendered with remarkable detail, their expressions and poses conveying the solemnity of the event. The composition is balanced by the presence of Joseph, standing in the background, and the hovering angels in the top corner, signifying the divine presence surrounding the Nativity. This engraving is a testament to the artist's skill in capturing both the spiritual and the human aspects of this pivotal Christian story.