Announcement to the Shepherds c. 16th century

Editor: This woodcut, entitled "Announcement to the Shepherds," is by an anonymous artist. It has a stark, almost medieval feel to it. What kind of symbolism do you see at play here? Curator: Notice how the artist places the angel, bearing the "Gloria in Excelsis Deo," quite literally above the everyday world of the shepherds. It's a visual hierarchy, isn’t it? The divine interrupting the mundane. Editor: That's interesting. The shepherds look so startled. Curator: Indeed. Their gestures are so theatrical, almost as if they're not quite believing what they see and hear. How does this contrast with our modern understanding of such events? Editor: It makes me think about how powerful the concept of divine intervention was then. Curator: Exactly! These symbols and gestures served as visual cues, shaping the emotional and spiritual understanding for generations.