1594
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
The Adoration of the Shepherds is a 1594 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, depicting Adoration of the Shepherd, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows a crowded scene with people gathered around a woman holding a baby. Above them, angels float in the sky, looking down. On the left, an older man stands with his hands clasped. In the background, a bright light shines over a landscape with tiny figures. Notice how the artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth—this isn’t paint, but metal plates etched with tools. The Latin text at the bottom reads like a poem, adding to the story. Next, check out how engraving works to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Hendrick Goltzius (German: , Dutch: ; né Goltz; January or February 1558 – 1 January 1617) was a German-born Dutch printmaker, draftsman, and painter.
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