The Meeting of the Magi c. 1475 - 1477

Adriaen van Wesel created this wooden sculpture, "The Meeting of the Magi," sometime in the 15th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the complex arrangement of figures, a dense, almost chaotic composition carved with remarkable detail. The texture of the wood itself adds depth, each mark a testament to the artist's hand. Van Wesel masterfully balances the chaos with a structural order. The figures, though numerous, are arranged in a pyramidal form, drawing the eye upwards. This structure provides a sense of stability to the bustling scene, a visual anchor amidst the flurry of details. The artist manipulates space, compressing the foreground and background, creating a sense of immediacy. This piece functions as more than just a depiction of a biblical scene; it is a sophisticated play of form and texture. The very materiality of the wood, the way it is carved and shaped, becomes a signifier of deeper meaning. The sculpture challenges us to look beyond the narrative and consider how its form shapes our understanding. The artwork invites contemplation, revealing new layers with each viewing.