Kees de Kort is a contemporary Dutch artist best known for his simple renderings of Bible stories. He has contributed illustrations to several Dutch children's books, most notably to What the Bible Tells Us, a series of books for children with mental disabilities, commissioned in 1965 by the Dutch Bible Society. The series has since been translated into 90 languages.

Announcement to the Shepherds appears in the children's book Grains Bible: 28 Stories of the Old and New Testament (Alliance Bible Societies, 1993). The bright colors and simple forms, along with the facial expressions of the shepherds, are perfect for communicating the intense emotion of the scene for young children. Similarly, children would recognize the angel, who appears in a simple white glowing robe, as someone both otherworldly and benevolent.