A newborn child lies at the center of the composition, swaddled in white cloth and resting on a bed of straw, as a young woman in a vivid red and blue robe leans protectively over him. To the left, a bearded man in a yellow cloak stands close behind the woman, his hands clasped and his gaze tenderly fixed on the infant. Gathered around the manger, a group of shepherds crowd forward, their faces animated with awe and wonder as they peer at the child.

One shepherd, kneeling in the foreground, stretches out his hands in adoration, while another, bare-chested and muscular, cradles a lamb in his arms as an offering. A woman behind the shepherds lifts a basket high above her head, her face turned toward the child, her gesture lively and expressive. Above the scene, two cherubs hover in the rafters, one holding a fluttering scroll, their bodies bathed in a soft, golden light that spills down onto the figures below.

The stable is rendered with deep shadows and strong wooden beams, framing the figures and heightening the sense of intimacy and enclosure. Outside the stable, a darkening sky tinged with the colors of dusk is visible through the open doorway, contrasting with the warm illumination that fills the interior. The artist uses bold, sweeping brushstrokes to model the drapery, especially in the woman's blue mantle, which cascades in rich folds across her lap and onto the ground.

The flesh of the figures is painted with a luminous, almost sculptural quality, highlighting the muscles, hands, and faces with subtle gradations of tone. Fine details, such as the straw beneath the child and the delicate curls of the cherubs, are rendered with precision and a sense of movement. The composition draws all attention toward the infant, with the gestures, gazes, and outstretched arms of every figure converging on the manger.

The palette is dominated by deep reds, blues, and earth tones, punctuated by the soft whites and golds that catch the light. The scene is crowded yet harmonious, with overlapping bodies and dynamic poses creating a sense of immediacy and collective reverence. Die Anbetung der Hirten is painted by Peter Paul Rubens, whose name appears in the catalogue entry for this work.