Aanbidding van de Drieëenheid 1569 - 1573

'Aanbidding van de Drieëenheid', or 'Adoration of the Trinity', was created by Wierix around the turn of the 17th century. Born in Antwerp, Wierix came of age during the Counter-Reformation, a period when the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority through art. This engraving is emblematic of that movement, saturated with religious symbolism and aimed at inspiring piety. Yet, the emotional tenor of the image is complex. The figures, arranged in tiers, gaze upward, their expressions a mixture of awe, supplication, and longing. The Trinity—God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit—is rendered with a vulnerable humanity that invites empathy. There is a devotional quality, but also an acknowledgement of human vulnerability and divine power. Wierix doesn't simply reiterate church doctrine, but creates an emotionally charged space. In the end, the engraving is not just a religious statement, but a reflection on the individual’s place within a cosmic and hierarchical order, where the earthly and divine intersect.