Paimenet Kumartavat Jeesus-Lasta, Harjoitelma Vaasan Kirkon Alttaritauluun, 1891 - 1892

Albert Edelfelt's painting "Paimenet Kumartavat Jeesus-Lasta, Harjoitelma Vaasan Kirkon Alttaritauluun, 1891 - 1892" captures a tender and reverential moment typical of Nativity scenes. In this work, you can see a group of figures, possibly shepherds, gathered around the newborn Jesus. The painting is imbued with a sense of quiet devotion and awe.At the center, the Virgin Mary holds the infant Jesus, who emits a soft, glowing light, symbolizing divinity and purity. Mary is depicted in a humble yet serene manner, her gaze tenderly focused on her child. The shepherds, characterized by their rustic attire and weathered faces, are shown in various poses of veneration and adoration. One kneels with his hands clasped in prayer, while the others stand or kneel, marveling at the sight of the Christ child.The setting is simple and almost sparse, with rough wooden beams of a stable and an open window that shows a night sky dotted with stars, perhaps alluding to the Star of Bethlehem. The backdrop features distant mountains under a serene, night sky, adding a sense of grandeur and solemnity to the scene.Edelfelt’s use of light, particularly the way it radiates from the newborn Jesus and softly illuminates the faces of the figures around, enhances the spiritual and mystical atmosphere of the painting.