The census in Bethlehem Pieter Brueghel the Younger (1564-1638)

Description of Peter Brueghel’s painting "The Census at Bethlehem" (2nd version)

The well-known work, which has biblical content as its basis, was painted by Peter Bruegel back in the 16th century. The work shows the way of life of the people of the time, both domestic and social.

Bruegel’s creative process seeks to show the authentic, the real essence of all that happens in the world. The Gospel versions disguise what is happening: for they convince us that Bethlehem is the true point on the globe where Jesus Christ came into being. The prophets of the Old Testament say that this is the city where the messenger of higher powers appeared. But Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, this comes from a census conducted by Emperor Augustus, from which we can conclude that Mary gave birth to a child in Bethlehem.

In that era there were certain laws that obliged any visitor to go to the locality from which he came. Joseph sent his way to the city of David, even though it was dangerous and difficult. Since Mary was about to give birth to a child into the world, time was short and every second was at stake.

The author desperately tried to portray the essence of the lawlessness and ugliness that occurred because of the management of the authorities in the area. It shows the domestic arrangements of the people, but one detail makes the work seem religious--the donkey and the ox carrying Mary. These are the animals that are supposed to appear in The Nativity.

Perhaps without these details the work would have had some other motif.

Joseph is a secondary person, so it is impossible to see his face from the angle and with his headdress covered.

The author wants to draw attention to Christ’s presence here, in the present moment, in the crowd of people. What he is saying is that Jesus is invisible to us while he is outside of us and not inside.