This is a high-quality digital print from an original watercolor painting by Margaret Zappi Paine.

An enclosure is packaged with each print with an image of the pencil sketch from which the original painting was created, and a description of the subject portrayed.

About the image:

This image illustrates excerpts of the lyrics of a traditional Christmas carol from Spain, sung very joyfully:

La Virgen lava pañales
Y los tiende en el romero
Los pajarillos cantando
Y el romero floreciendo
Pero mira como beben
Los peces en el río, Pero mira como beben
Por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río, por ver a Dios nacer

In English:

Virgin Mary is washing diapers
And extends them over the rosemary
The birds are singing
And the rosemary is blooming
Why, look how they drink!
The fish in the river! Look how they drink
Because they have seen God is born
They drink and drink, and drink again
The fish in the river, because they have seen God is born

The scene described in the carol can be imagined during the Holy Family’s journey to Egypt.

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.' Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt."
-- Matthew 2:13-14

In Egypt, along the route from Israel, traditions abound regarding the route which the Holy Family might have taken, including stops at springs for rest and water. The structures in this work are based on images of ancient Egyptian huts built in oasis settlements.

The carol celebrates the participation of all creation in the joy of the Incarnation.

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The rich, saturated tones in this print are professionally color-matched to produce a faithful reproduction of the 30" x 22" original. It is custom printed for us in Austin, Texas, on 120 lb archival, acid-free paper using an environmentally-friendly process.

Please contact me if you are interested in ordering this print in a custom size. Larger sizes and additional quantities are available upon request.

Shipping rate listed is for United States customers. If you are outside the US please contact me and I'll gladly calculate shipping cost for you before you place your order.