"The Nativity in a Cave", 1940's, by Lu Hung-Nien. This folded paper card presents the Holy Family with a charming little angel standing by with his lantern. In the cave, the flowers are in bloom; outside the cave one sees the little shepherds in the snow.
The interior of the card reads "Greetings on the Holy Birthday. Good wishes for the New Year", in both Chinese and English.
When the artist was a small boy, he loved the picture cards in the mission Sunday School. But one thing grieved him: no Chinese children were ever seen with Jesus. So his first Christian painting was "Jesus and the Little Children" and he put his own face on one of the children.
