The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds
Medium
Etching, engraving, and drypoint in black on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Image/plate: 25.9 × 21.8 cm (10 1/4 × 8 5/8 in.); Sheet: 26.2 × 22 cm (10 3/8 × 8 11/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
29062
Art Historical Context
In the glow of divine revelation, Rembrandt van Rijn *The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds*1634) captures a pivotal moment from the Gospel of Luke: an angel descending amid radiant light to announce Christ's birth to humble shepherds. Created during Rembrandt's early maturity in Amsterdam, this etching reflects the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with biblical narratives, blending spiritual drama with everyday humanity. At just 25.9 × 21.8 cm, its intimate scale invites close contemplation, much like a whispered secret shared in the night. Rembrandt, a Baroque master renowned for chiaroscuro—t...
About the Artist
Rembrandt van Rijn · 1606–1669
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) stands as one of the greatest visual artists in the history of Western art and the most important Dutch painter of the 17th century. Born in Leiden to a prosperous miller's family, Rembrandt transformed painting through his revolutionary use of light and shadow, his psychological depth in portraiture, and his elevation of etching to a fine art. His approx...