Aanbidding der koningen 1600 - 1620

Justus Sadeler created this print titled *Aanbidding der koningen* sometime around 1583. The detailed etching, with its dense linework, immediately draws us into a scene brimming with textures and tonal contrasts. Note how the architectural ruins are not just a backdrop, but form a structural counterpoint to the human figures. The composition is vertically oriented, divided into distinct zones – the divine above with angels, and the earthly below with the adoration scene. Here, the line becomes crucial: it defines the folds of drapery, the expressions on faces, and the decay of the architecture. The sharp contrasts between light and shadow add drama and emphasize the texture of the decaying architecture around the scene. It is more than just a religious scene, but a study of space, form, and the way meaning is constructed through visual elements. This interplay challenges the viewer to consider the relationship between the material and the spiritual.