Geboorte van Christus 1760 - 1761

Pieter Tanjé created this print titled 'Geboorte van Christus', or Nativity, using etching and engraving techniques. Tanjé worked during the Enlightenment, a period that questioned traditional authority, yet here he depicts a core scene from Christian theology. Notice how the composition centers on Mary, gently caring for the newborn Jesus. Joseph stands behind her, his expression conveying a sense of quiet awe and support. This intimate portrayal challenges conventional representations of women, by highlighting Mary's nurturing role as central to the divine narrative. The ethereal glow surrounding the angels in the background contrasts with the stark reality of the stable. This contrast draws you into the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the scene. Tanjé invites us to contemplate the profound intersection of the divine and the human, of faith and lived experience.