Aanbidding door de herders Possibly 1630 - 1702

This anonymous etching, titled "Aanbidding door de herders," depicts the biblical scene of the shepherds' adoration of the newborn Christ child. The composition places Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus in a stable setting, with the shepherds entering from the right, their faces illuminated by the divine light emanating from the sky. This artwork, which likely dates from between 1630 and 1702, highlights the artist's ability to capture the awe and reverence of the shepherds encountering the miraculous birth of Jesus, a central tenet of Christian faith. The detail of the surrounding animals, including a dog in the foreground and a celestial scene in the upper right, enhances the narrative and creates a sense of both earthly and heavenly realms.