Wing of an Altarpiece with Adoration of the Magi, on the reverse is Presentation in the Temple

Pieter Aertsen created this painted altarpiece wing which depicts the Adoration of the Magi. The composition's vertical orientation divides the pictorial space with a series of figures. The eye is immediately drawn to the contrast of the richly ornamented figure in the foreground and the bustle of secondary figures around him. A certain realism is achieved with the treatment of light and shadow that articulates the folds and textures of fabrics. Aertsen manipulates the viewer's gaze by constructing a pictorial space with strong diagonals and overlapping figures. The composition’s density destabilizes a traditional reading of the subject, which becomes secondary to the artist’s study of the human figure and surface texture. The artist seems interested in presenting a contemporary vision that embraces complexity over idealized form. It allows a glimpse into the changing artistic and cultural values of the time, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface.