The Angel Announcing the Birth of Our Lord to the Shepherds c. 1860

Editor: Alfred Stevens’s sketch, "The Angel Announcing the Birth of Our Lord to the Shepherds," at the Tate, feels incomplete, yet powerful. The figures are rendered in earth tones, emphasizing their grounded nature. How does Stevens use this scene to comment on societal structures of his time? Curator: Consider the shepherds – figures often marginalized, now central to a divine revelation. Stevens challenges the established hierarchies. The angel doesn’t appear to royalty, but to those on the periphery. How does that challenge the notion of power? Editor: So, by depicting this specific biblical scene, Stevens critiques the societal norms of his own era? Curator: Precisely. He uses religious imagery to disrupt conventional power dynamics and uplift the marginalized. The raw, unfinished quality also suggests an ongoing, evolving struggle. What does the lack of completion say about the work? Editor: I see that it suggests that there is always more work to be done. Curator: Indeed, Stevens encourages us to reflect on our own roles in the ongoing struggle for justice.