Aanbidding der koningen 1470 - 1480

This engraving, depicting the Adoration of the Magi, was made by Master IAM of Zwoll in the 15th century. The scene depicts a key moment in the Christian story of the Nativity, but we can also see it in the context of the urban culture of the late medieval Netherlands. Note how the architecture combines classical arches with more gothic towers. The dress of the three kings, too, is rich and refined, reflecting the wealth of the region at this time, which was built on trade. Engravings such as this were produced and distributed widely as devotional images. By studying them, alongside other kinds of historical documents, we can better understand the social functions of art in the past. It can offer us an insight into how people thought about the world and their place within it.