Adoration of the Magi 1513

This print of the Adoration of the Magi was made by Lucas van Leyden, a Dutch artist, in the first half of the sixteenth century. The image depicts a scene from the Gospel of Matthew, in which three wise men, or Magi, visit the infant Jesus and present him with gifts. Lucas van Leyden was a leading printmaker of the Northern Renaissance, whose work reflects the changing social and religious landscape of the time. This print was made in the Netherlands, a region with strong economic structures and a strong artistic tradition. The Netherlands was also a center of religious reform, and the artist may have been influenced by these new ideas. Note how he represents the scene in contemporary dress, placing it firmly in his own time. The art historian's role is to analyze the visual language of art within its historical and cultural context. By studying the social and religious history of the time, we can gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's meaning and its place in the world.