Aanbidding door de koningen 1660

Editor: Here we have Jan van Troyen’s “Adoration of the Kings,” an engraving from 1660 held at the Rijksmuseum. The detail achieved in the engraving is pretty amazing. What strikes me most is how the figures are arranged in a sort of ascending diagonal, drawing your eye up toward Mary and the child. What else stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The way van Troyen adapts a biblical narrative to reflect the 17th-century Dutch context is compelling. While ostensibly depicting the Adoration, it really speaks to ideas of civic virtue and pious values popular amongst the merchant class at the time. Consider how the magi are depicted. What do their expressions and clothing tell us? Editor: They seem quite somber and plainly dressed, definitely not as opulent as I would have expected. Curator: Exactly. This reflects a shift away from lavish displays of wealth, aligning more with the Calvinist values prevalent in Dutch society. It’s almost as if Van Troyen’s saying, “true devotion is not in gilded robes, but humility”. Note too, how accessible the scene feels - Mary isn't presented on a throne or idealized setting. How does that inform your understanding of the message being conveyed here? Editor: I see what you mean. By situating Mary and Jesus in this less adorned space, and by showing the Magi with less splendor, the artwork emphasizes relatable, down-to-earth devotion rather than grandeur or lofty spirituality. Curator: Precisely. It speaks volumes about the democratizing effect of the Reformation on religious imagery and how it served a powerful role in shaping public understanding and virtue at the time. Editor: It's really fascinating to see how this print reflected not just the biblical story but the social values of the Netherlands in the 1600s. I’ll definitely look at art from that time with different eyes now. Curator: Likewise. Seeing how seemingly simple images can be interpreted with this awareness highlights art's potent function.