The adoration of the Kings 1650

Abraham van Diepenbeeck rendered this drawing, The Adoration of the Kings, in pen and grey ink sometime in the 17th century. Here, we can see how the classic scene of the three kings, paying homage to the newborn Jesus, can also be seen as a commentary on social hierarchy. Notice the labourers struggling to carry gifts, in contrast to the kings, who stand cloaked in robes. Van Diepenbeeck worked in Antwerp during a time of great economic and social change, marked by a growing divide between the wealthy elite and the working class. This drawing subtly reflects the artist’s awareness of these issues. The inclusion of working-class figures might hint at the artist’s view of a society undergoing shifts in power. As historians, it is our role to look beyond the surface of the image and consider its broader cultural context. A deeper investigation into 17th-century Antwerpian society, looking at everything from tax records to merchant guilds, can give us greater insight into the social commentary being made.