This is Rembrandt's first great "dark manner" etching. Above a deep and mysterious nocturnal landscape, a blazing vision of heavenly light accompanies an angel who has come to announce Jesus's birth. The dazzling display inadvertently frighten the shepherds and their animals, scattering them in all directions. Rembrandt used a variety of techniques to achieve subtle tones and textures, including etching, engraving, drypoint, and the direct application of acid to corrode the surface of his copper plate.